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Former Horsemen’s Bookkeeper At Remington Indicted On Embezzlement Charge

Patricia Bessonett, formerly the horsemen's bookkeeper at Remington Park and Fair Meadows in Oklahoma, has been charged with embezzlement and pattern of criminal offense for her actions while working at those racetracks.

According to a grand jury indictment handed down from the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, Bessonett is alleged to have embezzled more than $15,000 between Jan. 29, 2018, and Aug. 19, 2020, at both racetracks.

The total amount of money embezzled is not listed in the indictment. Oklahoma state code cited in the indictment provides for a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of no more than $5,000 for embezzlement of amounts between $1,000 and $25,000.

The pattern of criminal offense charge stems from the allegation that Bessonett “unlawfully and willingly [committed] two or more offenses as part of a greater scheme or plan” related to the alleged embezzlement.

A warrant for Bessonett's arrest was issued in Oklahoma County on Aug. 31.

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Keeneland September Sale Participants Discuss COVID-19 Preparations

The threat of COVID-19 casts a continued pall over most segments of life, and as deaths and hospitalizations continue to trend back up toward pre-vaccine levels, it has led to participants at the upcoming Keeneland September Yearling Sale to consider protection measures briefly thought to be behind us.

Thoroughbred Daily News polled Keeneland executives, as well as buyers and consignors, about their concern related to the COVID-19 surge heading into the September sale, and the level of protection measures they plan to take.

Of particular note, Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said the company has reinstated an indoor mask mandate for all employees, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated employees will be required to test weekly.

Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, Keeneland will also strongly recommend that all sales participants wear a mask while indoors. The sales pavilion will also undergo a deep cleaning after every session, and hand sanitizing stations will be available around the property.

With Five Days Left In Meet, Saratoga Sets New Handle Record

At the completion of Wednesday's card, all-sources handle for the Saratoga meet stood at $709,437,410, which was enough to set an all-time handle mark for the historic race meet. After Wednesday, there were still five days left to the meet, which means the final handle number will shatter all records.

The previous handle record was set in 2019, when $705,343,949 was wagered. With fans not allowed on-track last year due to COVID-19 concerns, the 2020 handle came in at $702.5 million.

“The record-breaking handle numbers reflect the quality of racing here at Saratoga Race Course and the excellence of the summer meet, where all-sources handle has surpassed $700 million for three consecutive years,” said NYRA CEO and President David O'Rourke. “The business of Saratoga is stronger than at any point in its history, and that would simply not be possible without the support of the horseplayers and the hard work and dedication of the horsemen here in New York.

“Ultimately, these wagering dollars are critically important to sustain a robust purse account that supports hundreds of small businesses and the 19,000 good paying jobs that are directly tied to Thoroughbred racing. Beyond that, the enthusiasm that bettors have for Saratoga allows NYRA to invest in the kind of capital-improvement projects that are so important to the future of the sport. Whether it's a project like the renovation of the Oklahoma Training Track this year, or a frontside improvement like the construction of the 1863 Club, NYRA is committed to investing in our facilities for the betterment of the sport in New York and the industry as a whole. What's also clear is that Saratoga Live and our partnership with FOX Sports has been incredibly effective in reaching existing fans and developing new interest in the sport.”

O'Rourke noted that the return of the fans for this year's meet undoubtedly played a role in not just the robust handle figures, but the economic well being of the Saratoga community.

“Beyond the gates of Saratoga Race Course, the return of fans this summer has been critically important for downtown Saratoga Springs and the entire Capital Region business,” he said. “For the sixth consecutive year, we will eclipse one million in paid attendance, and this summer will long be remembered for the return of the best fans in racing to the rightful place at Saratoga.”

The record handle was accomplished despite a number of races coming off the turf. Through the 35th day of the meet, 76 races had come off the turf. In 2020, the number was just 31.

Once again, from a handle perspective, the highlight of the meet was the GI Runhappy Travers. S. card, which accounted for $51,381,515 in handle, down just slightly from the record set in 2019 when $52,129,344 was bet. The card for the GI Whitney S. generated an all-sources record handle of $36,802,234, bettering the previous mark of $35,796,434 set in 2020.

Should business remain robust through the end of the meet, NYRA has a chance to eclipse the $800 million mark for total handle. If so, that would mean an increase of about 13% over the 2019 figures.

The post With Five Days Left In Meet, Saratoga Sets New Handle Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Letter To The Editor: It’s Not Too Late To Shut Down The Slaughter Pipeline In The U.S.

Thanks to The Paulick Report's excellent coverage, readers are familiar with the slaughter pipeline where U.S. horses, including many off-track Thoroughbreds, are inhumanely transported to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and butchering so their meat can be sold for human food.

(If you're not familiar with this issue, you can learn more in our previous reporting here.)

In case you're a new reader, the slaughter pipeline is the legal practice where “kill pens” across the U.S. buy, hold, and transport horses to slaughter. It's a lucrative but unimaginably cruel business. Tens of thousands of horses, donkeys, and mules are shipped across U.S. highways and sold by the pound each year. Their journey and slaughter are particularly shocking. Unlike cattle, it's difficult to stun or sedate horses, so some are still conscious when they're strung up. Many slaughtered horses were young, healthy, and adoptable. Some were pregnant. Some were straight off their last race. Kill pen buyers are not picky.

Paulick Report readers know — and hate — all this. But what they may not know is that there is yet another chance to make the slaughter pipeline illegal. House Resolution 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (yes, the infamous $3.5 trillion Infrastructure Bill) is now back in the House of Representatives and it holds that chance.

While the Infrastructure Bill was debated in the House in June, Representative Troy Carter of Louisiana offered a simple amendment that promised to finally end the horse slaughter pipeline in this country. His amendment, which became Section 4406 “Transportation of Horses,” passed the House with bipartisan support. However, the bill's text, including the horse amendment, was stripped when it arrived in the Senate. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey stepped in and offered an identical amendment, but it was never voted on.

So after two noble, but failed efforts, Congress now has another chance to stop this horrible practice and do something Americans agree on.

But Congress' plate is full of urgent business and protecting horses has never been a priority. Make it one this time by contacting your representative and urging him or her to offer an amendment to ban the transport of American slaughter-bound horses, or to support such an amendment if offered by a colleague. Not sure who your representative is? Check here https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

–Kathy Stinson Hessmer
Volunteer at Circle A Home For Horses
Virginia Beach, VA

If you'd like to submit a letter to our editorial staff, please click here.

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