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At 20, Lava Man Adding Value As ‘Head Coach’ Of O’Neill Stable

Lava Man, the greatest claim in racing history and currently a valued stable pony at the Doug O'Neill barn, celebrated his 20^th birthday this morning on the Santa Anita backstretch in Arcadia, Calif.

Bred in California by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann, Lava Man, affectionately dubbed “The Coach” by O'Neill and his staff, is by Slew City Slew, out of the Nostalgia's Star mare Li'l Ms Leonard.

Claimed out of his 13th start at age three for $50,000 on August 13, 2004, Lava Man won his first start off the claim, the $50,000 Derby Trial Stakes at Fairplex Park and proceeded to embark upon a sensational career that saw him win back to back Santa Anita Handicaps in 2006 and '07 and three consecutive Hollywood Gold Cups from 2005-'07, while amassing career earnings of $5,268,706.

“He's the head coach, he chaperones every good horse we have to and from the track and he's been doing this for about 11 years now,” said O'Neill. “Any horse that needs a little behavior correction, he'll take them out there too. As much as he did for all of us during his racing days, he's doing maybe even more now in his retirement days being the head pony.”

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EHV-1: Additional Laurel Barn Under Quarantine, But Restrictions Could Be Lifted Soon

The lifting of restrictions resulting from an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) quarantine at Laurel Park hinge on the results of test results expected in the coming days, veterinary officials said March 19.

The restrictions took effect March 8 when Barns 1, 4, 10 and 11 were placed under quarantine for 14 days at the outset. On March 17, Barn 20 was added to the quarantine list after a filly was discovered the have neurologic symptoms and was sent to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania for treatment and testing. The first of two tests came back negative.

During a Zoom meeting hosted by Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association March 19, Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer for The Stronach Group, and Dr. Michael Odian, the Maryland State Veterinarian, provided an update on the ongoing situation. Laurel Park has continued to offer live racing with restrictions on shippers.

Benson said the filly from Barn 20 that tested negative will be retested in 72 hours, and if the second test is negative, horses from Barn 20 will be permitted to train with the regular population. Six horses in Barn 4 tested positive for EHV-1 on March 17 and were transported to the former Bowie Training Center, where a barn was spruced up for quarantine use. The remaining horses in Barn 4 will be retested March 24. Benson said if those tests prove negative, the Barn 4 quarantine would be lifted March 29.

If there are no symptomatic horses found in Barns 1, 10 and 11, the quarantine on those barns would be lifted March 27, in time for them to race that weekend at Laurel.

“We hope to be on the other side of this a week from Monday (March 29),” Benson said.

“I understand these are frustrating times and we're trying to balance everything,” Odian said. “We're also trying to show other racing jurisdictions we are doing the best protocols possible to show we have the disease under control. I've been impressed with how easy everyone is to work with. The protocols are designed with a lot of factors in mind.”

In response to a question about when horses not in quarantined barns will be permitted to leave the grounds, Benson said if there are no new EHV-1 cases and the second tests on the horses in Barn 4 are negative, the quarantine would be lifted March 29.

The MJC Racing Office, to accommodate horsemen in quarantined barns, is working on a schedule to expand training hours on dark days—Monday through Thursday—and will inform horsemen when the times are determined. The MJC also said that, effective immediately, any horses shipping to Laurel or Pimlico during the quarantine must be approved by the Racing Office.

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Racing Victoria Announces Grants For Businesses That Use OTTBs

Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced new support for Victorian businesses, including horse/trail riding services, equine colleges, equine therapy centers and pony clubs, to bolster the opportunities afforded horses' that have retired from the Victorian racing industry.

A new $10,000 business grant for Victorian equine-related businesses will help boost their operations, with the sole objective of growing the number of off-the-track Thoroughbreds being utilized by these organizations.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program is expected to help stimulate businesses to accommodate more horses, including those currently operating with Thoroughbreds or looking to take them on for the first time.

The program contains four key initiatives, including increasing the number of retired Thoroughbreds an equine business can utilize; increasing the breadth of career options for non-competitive thoroughbreds; providing longevity to thoroughbreds in their post-racing career; and encouraging an equine business (which may currently utilize other breeds) to incorporate thoroughbreds into their operation on a sustainable basis.

Both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses are eligible to apply for the grant, and must submit their application before 5 p.m. (AEST) on April 9, 2021 via the programs SmartyGrants page.

Building on the positive progress of RV's current post-racing initiatives, this program recognizes the importance of growing the demand for thoroughbreds beyond the equestrian community to maximize the opportunities afforded every retired racehorse.

This grant becomes even more important in the current climate, where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to suppress economic activity, and may do for a considerable period into the future.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program will complement the various post-racing initiatives RV has introduced over the past 12 months, including the RESET Program, Retrainer Capacity Expansion Grant Program, COVID-19 relief support scheme for RV Acknowledged Retrainers, and partnerships with organizations such as Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria to help improve the post-racing wellbeing of racehorses in Victoria.

For more information on the Off The Track Business Grant Program, including application criteria, visit: racingvictoria.com.au/grants

Quotes attributed to RV General Manager, Equine Welfare, Jennifer Hughes:

“I'm really excited to see the Off The Track Business Grant Program open to Victorian businesses today.

“It's another important step to help expand our post-racing options available to retired racehorses.

“We know that like any horse, not all former gallopers are suited to the equestrian world, so this opens the door for more Thoroughbreds to explore non-competitive options post-racing.

“The program also provides us the opportunity to work with operators we traditionally haven't considered as a pathway for off-the-track horses and further demonstrate the versatility of Thoroughbreds.

“We hope to support and incentivize those businesses that are either looking to increase the number of Thoroughbreds they currently have or for those considering the breed for the first time.

“Ultimately, our aim is to see this program drive long-term demand for Thoroughbreds post-racing and support the growth of equine businesses operating in Victoria.”

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Saddle Time After Shots: What Workload Is Acceptable?

Though horses tend to receive many more vaccinations than an average, healthy human, that doesn't mean their bodies are more adapted to dealing with them. Equus magazine recently took a look at the best recommendations for keeping horse comfortable after receiving a round of vaccinations.

Like human vaccines, many equine vaccinations are delivered intramuscularly. Though most horses will have a minimal reaction other than localized inflammation and soreness at the injection site, some horses may be stiff and unwilling to bend their neck.

While it's not recommended that the horse be worked intensely the day after he receives his shots, he can be ridden lightly the day of the vaccinations or the next day. This should make the sore muscles feel less stiff. After the first 48 hours, the horse can be returned to his normal exercise routine and intensity.

A horse should not be worked at all if he has significant swelling or stiffness, or if he has a fever. When in doubt, talk with the horse's treating veterinarian about what work, if any, they prefer the horse do.