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Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Too Young To Retire, Older Runners Flaunt New Skills At Thoroughbred Makeover

The Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America began rather modestly in 2013 with 26 off-track Thoroughbreds at Pimlico Race Course. This year's renewal held Oct. 12-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington has attracted hundreds of entrants showcasing the endless skills of the breed. The competition has achieved the original goal of creating demand for former racers that too often were considered one-trick ponies known only for speed. Along the way, the Makeover has brought attention to the value of high-mileage Thoroughbreds for their “been there, done that” attitudes suited for countless activities when properly retrained.

This month's Lost and Found spotlights three of those so-called “war horses” entered in the Makeover—Granny's Kitten, Imperative and Talk Show Man.

Granny's Kitten (Kitten's Joy-Granny Franny, by Grand Slam)

Record: 32-6-5-4 and $480,928

Stakes wins: 2017 Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds, 2016 Alphabet Soup Handicap at Parx Racing

Age: 9

Gail Canan was aware of Granny's Kitten, thanks to a friend who knew him well during his racing days for breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. The mellow fellow's pedigree and record made him an attractive stallion prospect but when no deal was finalized, he was channeled to Canan and subsequently gelded so that he could easily transition to life with pasture mates.

Instead of choosing a discipline for Granny's Kitten, she is going to let him pick. She said he seems to enjoys cross country jumping so she is hoping to reshape him into an eventer.

Canan marvels at his attitude that she describes as “unflappable” regardless of his surroundings or tasks.

“That longevity (of racing) says a lot about the constitution of the horse,” said Canan. “He is always ready for a new adventure. I can take him anywhere (because) he was so well traveled. His first time at a show grounds, he was a little 'looky' but not like he was going to be naughty. He was more like, 'This is interesting.' He was a little hesitant when I took him cross country as if he was saying 'I am not sure what you want.' He looked around a lot, just checking what was going on.”

Granny's Kitten wins the Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap

Some off-track Thoroughbreds have flashbacks when hearing a public address system for the first time, but Granny's Kitten was unfazed after racing 32 times.

Granny's Kitten won his first two career starts at ages two and three and then spent most of the next several years in the stakes ranks. His most profitable triumph was the 2017 Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds.

As a former exercise rider who grew up participating in horse shows, Canan said she understands both worlds of OTTBs.

“They know a lot more than you think they know, but you might have to ask [for some things] in a different way than they're used to, such as with flying lead changes,” she said. “I encourage people to not overlook a horse that might be a little older and has raced a lot. If they have raced for that long, there is something about them. Give them a chance.”

Caban believes that after changing caretakers and barns for years, the workaday racers have a great appreciation for stability.

“It is like they know 'this is my home and this is my person,'” she said.

Imperative wins the Big Bear Stakes in 2016

Imperative (Bernardini-Call Her, by Caller I.D.)

Record: 50-7-8-4 and $3,302,812

Stakes wins: 2017 and 2014 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2)

Age: 11

After racing 50 times from coast to coast and earning more than $3 million, Imperative remains eager for any new assignment.

“He has the most incredible work ethic of any horse I have ever met,” said Louise Atkins who acquired him via the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization. “He is very smart and retains everything he is taught. We started with very small local shows, he was tense and distracted but did his job.”

Atkins said in his early time away from the track, Imperative was aloof and distant but is now so attentive and curious that he has been nicknamed The Mayor. He craves attention and is exceptionally social with equine pals.

“He hates to do anything alone so we kind of cater to him a little bit,” she said.

Atkins said Thoroughbreds that had an abundance of racing are more likely to remain sound in their second careers.

“For someone looking for an OTTB, I recommend going through a reputable agent or a resale organization,” she said. “We take horses from the track and start their turnout and transition them to regular life. We assess their temperament and needs. It takes the guess work out for someone looking for a partner.

Talk Show Man enjoys a celebratory beer. Photo courtesy Lindy Gutman

Talk Show Man (Great Notion-Mark Me Special, by Haymaker)

Record: 40-8-2-7 and $456,556

Stakes wins: 2018 and 2014 Maryland Million Turf Stakes at Laurel Park; 2015 Henry S. Clark Stakes at Pimlico

Age: 11

Talk Show Man made all but three of his 40 starts in his native Maryland and he saw plenty of action on major event days that would prepare him for a new career.

“He's seen so many things,” said Lindy Gutman who will ride him in the Makeover. “He ran on big race days like Maryland Million Day and Preakness Day when the areas around the track were so different than other days with banners, tents, bands, flyovers and lots of people.”

Gutman opted to enter the ranch division of the Makeover to add to their versatility.

“I really like to try new things and I like to be able to take my horses anywhere,” Gutman said.

Talk Show Man was a bit hesitant around strangers during his early retraining but he has since become exceptionally social.

“He will even poke you with his ear so that you'll rub it,” Gutman said. “He likes you to jam your knuckle way down in there and rub. It's really gross, but he will walk up to strangers while I'm riding him and give them one of his ears. It's funny to see their expressions when I tell them what he wants and they go to gently rub on the outside of his ear and he keeps pushing it at them. I have to tell them that he wants them to poke their knuckle in there and look for his brain!”

Gutman had four previous off-track Thoroughbreds, but Talk Show Man is her first restart.

“There is an OTTB out there for everyone, but not every OTTB is for just anyone,” she said. “Take the time to find the horse that works for you. I never thought that I'd ride OTTBs again, at age 53, because I'm not a brave rider and I was wrong. Plus, the OTTB people are the absolute best. They are so supportive of each other. I'm happy to talk to anyone about why they need an OTTB.”

Talk Show Man raced throughout his career for his breeder Dr. Michael Harrison, who channeled him to Gutman for the Makeover.

Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer who has spent her entire career in Thoroughbred racing-related jobs in barns, press boxes and offices. She has worked for stables from Saratoga to Ak-Sar-Ben and from Canterbury Park to Oaklawn Park and about another dozen tracks in the eastern two thirds of America. A longtime contributor to Thoroughbred Times, her articles have appeared in Keeneland Magazine, Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders' Cup website, Horse Illustrated, European Bloodstock News, KyForward, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider and other publications. She is a seasonal member of Keeneland's media department.

The post Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Too Young To Retire, Older Runners Flaunt New Skills At Thoroughbred Makeover appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Penn National Gaming Updates Animal Welfare Policy To Ban Transport Via Cargo Ship

Penn National Gaming, Inc. (“PNGI”) has reissued its Animal Welfare Policy that is part of its company wide Horse Racing Guide applicable to all horse racing properties owned or managed by PNGI. PNGI has had an anti-slaughter policy in effect since 2010 and issued its first Horse Racing Guide in 2011 to institute a code of conduct for all racing participants at its facilities. The Horse Racing Guide is updated annually and is paired with local rules for each racing property. Al individuals participating in racing at PNGI properties are subject to the provisions of the Horse Racing Guide.

The newest revision of the Animal Welfare Policy includes new language regarding the transport of horses, including horses being transported via cargo ship, as well as reinforcing responsibility for the overall health and welfare of individuals equine charges.

“The recent reports of horses being shipped via cargo containers has raised awareness and importance of this issue and we felt this was a good opportunity to update and reiterate our policies regarding animal welfare issues,” said Christopher McErlean, Vice President of Racing for PNGI. “This is a priority for PNGI but must also be a priority for all industry participants who need to make a good faith effort to do the right thing in all matters related to equine health and welfare. Those who continue to work outside of these guidelines should not continue to have the privilege of racing at our properties.”

The entire Penn National Gaming, Inc. updated Animal Welfare Policy is provided below:

H. Animal Welfare

The health and safety of the equine participants competing at all PENN racing properties is of paramount importance and all Racing Participants, especially those who are entrusted with the ownership and the ongoing care of these animals, must take all reasonable actions and care to ensure that their equine charges are treated with dignity and respect.

Any Racing Participant covered by this Horsemen's Guide who handles or treats any animal without regard for the well-being of the animal or causes physical injury or pain or suffering to the animal, including excessive or unnecessary training/whipping, transporting, or neglect in the care, feeding or medical attention shown to the animal, as determined in the sole discretion of Racetrack, may be sanctioned. Except as required by statute or regulation, it is the sole responsibility of the trainer to ensure that a licensed and competent veterinarian is available at all times to ensure the health and welfare of such trainer's horses and to attend to trainer's horses at all times such horses are on the grounds of Racetrack in any and all emergency situations in which a regulatory or Racetrack veterinarian is not required to be present or to respond to a trainer's horse(s).

In the event Racetrack receives credible and verifiable information regarding a Racing Participant who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, buys or sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly, such individual(s) may be sanctioned by the Racetrack up to and including revocation of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties. The Racetrack highly encourages Racing Participants to obtain proper written documentation on sale or transfer of any horse that they previously raced or was stabled on the grounds of Racetrack and lack of such documentation shall be considered a failure in due diligence efforts. The Racetrack reserves the right to require trainer or individuals responsible for a horse to provide such documentation as requested and failure to cooperate may result in sanctions by the Racetrack, up to and including revocations of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties.

In the event the Racetrack receives credible and verifiable information regarding a Racing Participant who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, ships, assists in the shipping of, or knowingly participates in the sale or transfer of a horse that is transported by cargo container/ship, such individual(s) may be sanctioned by the Racetrack up to and including revocation of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties. The Racetrack reserves the right to require trainer, owner, or any individuals responsible for a horse to provide documentation proving the shipping method being used for a horse under their care or ownership and failure to cooperate in providing requested information may result in sanctions by the Racetrack, up to and including revocations of stalls and exclusion from racing at all PENN properties.

The post Penn National Gaming Updates Animal Welfare Policy To Ban Transport Via Cargo Ship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Obese Horses More Likely To Move Unevenly

In an effort to determine how added weight affects equine fitness and performance, Dr. Anna Jansson and a research team from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Hólar University published a study in Physiological Reports in which horses were fed controlled diets to add or restrict weight gain. The scientists used nine Icelandic horses that they split into two groups. Changes in body weight and fat were induced in the group being fed a high-energy diet for 36 days.

During the last seven days of the study period, researchers recorded body condition score and weight, and percentage of body fat was estimated with an ultrasound. Each horse was then given an exercise test on a treadmill and a field test that mimicked a competition, which was scored by judges. Blood samples were taken, as well as heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate.

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On the treadmill test, the horses that had gained weight had a higher heart rate and temperature, and heavier respiration. Blood tests showed that heavier horses had lower physiological fitness.

The team also found that overweight horses showed a marked gait asymmetry compared with leaner horses, as was shown both by sensors placed on the horses while they moved. The heavier horses moved most asymmetrically on the day after their field test.

Judges overseeing the field test also scored heavier horses lower than their leaner counterparts, suggesting that weight affects performance.

The authors conclude that higher body fat and body weight lowers equine performance, made horses move more unevenly, and delayed their recovery from exercise.

Read the full study here.

Not Hot To Trot? Underlying Pain May Be To Blame

If a normally game, non-gaited horse begins showing signs of reluctance to trot, but instead paces or breaks into the canter, a call to the vet may be in order, Dr. Bruce Connally of Wyoming Equine in Berthoud, Colorado, tells EQUUS magazine.

A horse suddenly is unwilling to go forward or one that has a significant gait change (like refusing to trot, but being willing to pace) is trying to tell his rider that something is amiss. Loping or gaiting instead of trotting can be ways in which horses seek to minimize pain.

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If the horse is older, arthritis may be to blame. Other possibilities include foot pain, neurologic pain like equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) or pain in the back or pelvis. The outcome, including the possibility of continued riding, is dependent on the veterinarian's findings.