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Legacy Equine Academy’s Ronald Mack Working To Increase Diversity, Inclusion In Thoroughbred Racing

Earlier this year in an effort to take meaningful strides toward increasing diversity and inclusion in Thoroughbred racing, the NTRA began working with the Legacy Equine Academy to create a scholarship through the University of Kentucky that would support students of color who show an interest in a career within the equine industry.

The Legacy Equine Academy, which encourages students in grades 6 – 12 to attend college and pursue equine, agriculture, natural resources, and environmental science degrees, is the brainchild of Ronald Mack. Mack recently shared with the NTRA his inspiration behind the Legacy Equine Academy and some of the long-term hopes he has for the program.

Q: What was the impetus behind your decision to found the Legacy Equine Academy?

A: “As a kid, I literally grew up on the grounds of the old Kentucky Association in the Eastend of Lexington, KY. The street I lived on (Aspendale Drive) was an oval. We were aware that our street was an old horse racing track. However, we had no idea that when we played in the field out back, we were playing on the infield of a historically famous racecourse.

“A few years ago, I read a book titled Perfect Timing to my son Stoney. The book is about the life of Isaac Murphy. Many consider Murphy, a Black horseman, the greatest jockey of all time. Inspired by Murphy's story, I began to research Thoroughbred racing in the late 1800s and early 1900s era. The names, stories and accomplishments of hundreds of Black horsemen in and around Lexington, KY may be lost but there is little doubt of their significance to Thoroughbred racing. Through my research, it was obvious to me that the Thoroughbred industry, and indeed, the wealth and success found today would not exist without the Black horsemen's hard work and expertise! These Trailblazers overcame adversity and found great success, which quickly vanished from memory in the early 20th century.

“Much of that history happened where I played as a kid. I wanted to establish a grand event (The Legacy Ball) to pay homage to those Thoroughbred legends. I also founded The Legacy Equine Academy, Inc. to connect African American and other racially diverse youth to their heritage of the Black horseman.”

Q: A major objective of the Legacy program is to encourage and expose students in grades 6-12 to the equine and agricultural industries. What can the Thoroughbred industry do specifically to help advance that objective?

A: “We encourage the Thoroughbred industry to support our efforts! Both financially and by providing resources and industry related activities, such as apprenticeships, job shadowing, tours, etc., to help potential future industry leaders. We welcome opportunities for our LEA students to discover firsthand how equine and agriculture technology relate to the world around them and discover the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development, and teamwork. In turn, LEA provides a 'pipeline' of qualified and certified student leaders for career employment opportunities in the Thoroughbred and Agriculture industries.”

Q: So much of the Thoroughbred industry is rooted in the contributions of the African-American community and people of color. How can the racing community better amplify those voices?

A: “Reaching out and supporting an organization like LEA is an example of how the industry can solidify their commitment of exposing two of the world's most prominent industries to a new audience and a new generation. As an industry partner, LEA fosters a commitment to young people that promotes the Equine and Agriculture industries and career related opportunities it offers. These industries take a special kind of skill, passion and patience. As a community partner, the racing establishment could begin to set a standard throughout the world by exemplifying the importance of greater professional workforce racial diversity.”

Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your work with the students in the Legacy program?

A: “To experience the moment when a young person has a 'discovery' of new ideas and opportunities as a result of our program makes it worth the hard work, commitment and dedication to the LEA mission. As I mentioned before, bridging the rich heritage of the Black Horsemen to today's standards in the industries they help build, has been a mission that, hopefully, will become my 'Legacy'.”

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Shackleford Filly Fastest In Opening Session Of OBS July’s Under Tack Show

Hip No. 15, Shack's Lil Mishap, a daughter of Shackleford consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, breezed a quarter in :20 4/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the opening session of the Under Tack Show for Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2020 July Sale of Two Year Olds in Training & Horses of Racing Age. The bay filly is out of Peace Queen, by Indian Charlie, a half sister to graded stakes winner Tizaqueena.

Hip No. 120, a dark bay or brown colt by Air Force Blue consigned by Brick City Thoroughbreds, Agent, turned in a quarter in :21 flat. He's a half brother to stakes placed Take Ten out of Savviest, by El Corredor, from the family of grade one winner Tactical Cat.

Five youngsters worked quarters in :21 1/5.

Hip No. 51, consigned by G. A. Thoroughbred Sales, Agent, is a bay filly by Jack Milton out of Purely Promising, by Pure Prize, a half sister to stakes winner Code Satan.
Hip No. 103, a bay colt by Not This Time consigned by Ocala Stud, is a half brother to stakes winner Softly Lit out of Running Creek, by Cape Town, a daughter of graded stakes winner Palliser Bay.
Hip No. 107, consigned by Goldencents Thoroughbreds, is a dark bay or brown filly by Itsmyluckyday out of Sadie, by In Summation, a half sister to stakes placed Lucky Peridot, from the family of champion Storm Song.
Hip No. 113, a dark bay or brown filly by Raison d'Etat consigned by RiceHorse Stable (Brandon & Ali Rice), is out of stakes placed Sally's Dream, by Utopia (JPN), a half sister to stakes winner Shot Berry.
Hip No. 130, consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Summer Front out of Second Cousin, by Purim, a daughter of stakes placed Aidan's Bella.

There were five quarters in :21 2/5.

Hip No. 72, a dark bay or brown colt by Palace consigned by Hoppel's Horse & Cattle Co., Inc., is out of Reamidst, by Repent, a full sister to graded stakes winner Atoned.
Hip No. 75, a gray or roan colt by Shanghai Bobby consigned by Whitman Sales LLC, Agent, is out of Red Hot Maria, by Maria's Mon, a half sister to stakes winner Red Hot Buddha.
Hip No. 88, consigned by Golden Noguez, Agent, is a bay colt by Upstart out of Ron's Girl, by Lawyer Ron, a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Mindy Sue.
Hip No. 158, a dark bay or brown filly by Medaglia d'Oro consigned by All In Line Stables, Agent, is out of Sigurwana, by Arch, a half sister to stakes winner Token of Love (GB).
Hip No. 29, Platino Tiara, a daughter of The Factor consigned by All Dreams Equine, Agent, worked the session's fastest three eighths, clocked in :33 1/5. The dark bay or brown filly is out of Platinum Bride, by Alphabet Soup, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Pia Bride.

Six horses shared honors for the session's fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :10 flat.

Hip No. 27, consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, is a gray or roan colt by Race Day out of Pistolpackinsenora, by Closing Argument, a daughter of stakes placed Prospective Angel.
Hip No. 49, a bay filly by Into Mischief consigned by Brick City Thoroughbreds, Agent, is a half sister to graded stakes placed Island Saint out of graded stakes winner Prospective Saint, by Saint Ballado.
Hip No. 66, consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, is a dark bay or brown colt by Ride On Curlin out of Rated Xtreme, by Magna Graduate, a full sister to graded stakes winner Blueeyesintherein.
Hip No. 82, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, is a bay filly by Frosted out of Ride to Houston, by a half sister to graded stakes winner Runway Model, dam of grade one stakes winner McKinzie.
Hip No. 115, a chestnut filly Malibu Moon consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc., (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of Samsational, by Unbridled's Song, a half sister to grade one stakes winner I Want Revenge.
Hip No. 143, a bay filly by Tale of Ekati consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, is out of Shelby's Song, by Songandaprayer, from the family of stakes winner Sapphire Beads.

The Under Tack Show continues Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. with Hip No.'s 181 – 360 scheduled to breeze.

Under Tack results and videos are posted on the OBS website at obssales.com and can be viewed on kiosks in the breezeway and in the Video Room adjacent to the Horsemen's Lounge. In-room viewing is available at The Courtyard by Marriott, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Residence Inn and the Ocala Hilton, plus lounge viewing is available at the Hilton.

Current information about OBS sales, consignors and graduates is now also available via social media sites Facebook and Twitter. A link on the homepage directs users to either site.

Sales results will be available on the OBS website, updated hourly during each session of the Spring Sale. In addition, the latest news regarding OBS graduates, sales schedules, nominations, credit requests, travel information and other news relevant to OBS consignors and customers is also available. E-mail should be addressed to obs@obssales.com.

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‘Such A Warrior’: Vekoma Jumps Into Top Three Of NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

After earning his third straight victory and second consecutive Grade 1 triumph when he captured the Metropolitan Handicap on July 4, Vekoma left no doubt he was among the elite handicap horses in the country. The George Weaver-trainee had that status further validated on Monday when he earned 2 first-place votes and 302 points to move up to third overall in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Vekoma has shown quality throughout his eight career starts, winning the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes as a juvenile and taking the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes last April to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. He was put away for the rest of 2019 after finishing 12th in the Run for the Roses and has returned with a vengeance as a 4-year-old, prevailing in each of his three outings. The son of Candy Ride (ARG) opened his 2020 campaign with a win in the Sir Shackleton Stakes on March 28 before taking the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on June 6 and the historic Met Mile this past weekend.

“I think he's the best older horse in the country,” co-owner Randy Hill told the NYRA publicity team about Vekoma. “George (Weaver) is thinking about the Forego or training right up to the Breeders' Cup and we leave all of that up to him. The horse will tell us. He's such a warrior.”

Vekoma's presence was the only major shift near the top of the Thoroughbred Poll rankings as champion Midnight Bisou continues to reign with 24 first-place votes and 375 points. G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat (8 first-place votes, 333 points) holds in second with Grade 1 winner-Mucho Gusto (171) dropping one spot to fourth.

By My Standards ranks fifth with 157 points followed by top sophomore runner Tiz the Law (2 first-place votes, 130 points) and Code of Honor (1 first-place vote, 123 points). Grade 1-winner Zulu Alpha is eighth with 99 points as Maximum Security (3 first-place votes, 98 points) sits ninth. Instilled Regard, winner of the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes this past weekend, joins the top 10 in the final spot with a total of 65 points.

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law stays in command of the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll for yet another week, earning 39 first-place votes and 399 points. Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (1 first-place vote, 358 points) remains second followed by graded-stakes winner Authentic (260 points) and Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post (211).

King Guillermo (188 points) ranks fifth and he is followed by the only newcomer to the poll's top 10, Uncle Chuck, who sits sixth with 135 points on the heels of his victory in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby July 4. Top filly Gamine (134 points) dips one spot to seventh with Max Player (82), Charlatan (81) and Swiss Skydiver (67) completing the top 10.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in both the Top 3-Year-Old Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through the conclusion of the Breeders' Cup in November.

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Santa Anita PET Scans Allowing Horsemen To ‘Assess The Response Of An Injury’ Over Time

The equine Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner pioneered by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, in collaboration with LONGMILE Veterinary Imaging, is now in heavy use at Santa Anita Park in Southern California. In just over six months since the installation in December 2019, with the financial support from the Stronach Group, more than 100 scans have been performed with the “MILEPET” (Molecular Imaging of Limbs in Equids), the PET scanner specifically designed to acquire images on horses without the need to lay them down.

Overall, 65 different horses were imaged with the scanner, with several horses imaged multiple times, several weeks apart. In total, images of 186 front ankles, 28 hind ankles, 16 knees, and 11 feet were acquired. As shown by these numbers, the front ankles are the main area of interest, as these are the joints most commonly involved in severe injuries in racehorses.

The first objective after installation of the scanner at the racetrack was to complete a study, funded by the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, aiming at assessing the value of PET for identification and follow-up of ankle injuries. The study called for 24 horses with signs of fetlock injuries to be imaged three times with the PET scanner, with follow-up scans six and 12 weeks after the initial scans. All 24 horses have now been enrolled, and over half of these horses have completed all three scans.

All scans were successful, providing very interesting preliminary results.

“The PET scans provide very precise information about the injury,” said Dr. Mathieu Spriet, associate professor of diagnostic imaging at UC Davis and lead veterinarian on the study. “With a classic 'bone scan,' we usually can associate the injury with one of the bones of the ankle, but with the PET, we can really localize the abnormality to a specific area in a bone.”

This is of particular importance, as injuries to specific areas of the ankle bones are known to predispose horses to catastrophic breakdown.

Another benefit of the PET scan is the ability to see changes over time.

“As we have repeated scans six weeks apart, we have seen marked improvement on many of the injuries following treatment and rest, whereas other injuries remained active,” continued Dr. Spriet. “Being able to assess the response of an injury is very helpful to decide the course of action: deciding whether a horse needs more time off, a different treatment, can go back to the track or should be retired from racing – these are very challenging decisions to make for the veterinarians at the track. The PET images have provided objective data to support these decisions.”

In addition to the 24 horses in the Grayson Jockey Club study, more than 40 horses have been scanned at the request of their veterinarians. Horses were sent in by 14 different veterinarians coming from 26 different trainers, demonstrating how broadly the technique has already been embraced by the Santa Anita racing community.

As a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner was also installed at Santa Anita Park earlier this year, another on-going study, supported by the Oak Tree Foundation, aims at comparing PET and MRI findings in the ankles of racehorses. Twenty horses have been enrolled in this study with preliminary results demonstrating the complementarity of both techniques to provide the best assessment of various injuries.

Another study, supported by the Dolly Green Research Foundation, has recently started. This study aims at monitoring horses who are resuming training after being laid-up due to ankle injury. The goal is to assess the ankle on a regular basis to be able to adapt the training, if early signs of injury were to recur.

“It is very impressive how much has been accomplished and how much we have learned in the last six months, thanks to the support of key partners and the hard work of the technical staff and the veterinarians at Santa Anita Park,” said Dr. Spriet. “We have been able to establish this new technology as a reliable, high-precision diagnostic tool for racehorses.”

It is likely that the knowledge about PET will keep growing quickly. In addition to the different on-going studies at Santa Anita Park, this technology is now available outside of California, as a MILEPET scanner has just been installed at New Bolton Center, the equine veterinary hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. There are also on-going efforts to secure the funding to install another MILEPET at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center, where it would be available for racehorses from Golden Gate Fields and for sport horses across Northern California.

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