But a friend, the late Dick Hancock, longtime executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, talked Evans into taking the job, telling him that the program needed help and someone with his myriad skills would be a perfect fit.

“Dick told me he had a job for me at a prison,” Evans said. “He wanted me to come and straighten things out.”

That was in 2005 and 18 years later, Evans retired last week.

“Why did I retire? Because I am 75. That's a good enough reason.”

He left a job that far exceeded his expectations. As soon as he got there, he knew that he had the chance to change the lives for the better for the more than 275 inmates that came through the program while he was there.

“Was this the most gratifying job that I had in racing? It was. There's no question about it,” said Evans, who, in 2016, received the first Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit for his work with the TRF. “To see a lot of these girls go on to be successful, that's the best thing that I accomplished in my life.”

Yes, the TRF, the oldest and largest Thoroughbred rescue in the U.S., is about the horses. It has given a good home to thousands since its founding in 1983. The Lowell herd normally numbered about 50. But it's also about helping people who need help the most. The majority of the TRF's retirees can be found at prison facilities spread across the country, where inmates care for the horses. The interaction between the inmates and the horses has proven to be nothing short of miraculous. The recidivism rate is much lower than it is at non-TRF prisons and most of the inmates turn a corner, leading productive lives after they've been released.

“Hardly any of our inmates come back,” Evans said. “Normally, once they start coming to prison they keep coming back to prison. There were a lot of things I didn't expect when I got there so far as having a positive influence on other people. That was the best thing about this job.”

The Lowell program was the TRF's first at a women's prison and Evans believes that female inmates blossom in the program even more so than the men.

“A lot of them are mothers and this gave them something to nurture,” Evans said. “The horses really benefitted from that and the women really benefitted because they were locked up here without their children. I would say 65% of them had children. That was a big factor right there so far as them moving forward. Because of the horses, they had something to do and an importance in their lives that they hadn't had since got incarcerated. That was a big part of it.

“When I was in the horse business, I worked for a lot of wealthy people and you're just trying to produce for them. It makes a big difference when there isn't the pressure of having to win a race. This is more a matter of motivating people to better their lives. That was the really good part of about it.”

When it became known that Evans was going to retire, tributes came pouring in from some of the inmates who were under his supervision. They all spoke of how much better their lives had become because they had worked with Evans and the horses.

Here is a sampling:

“I don't even know where to begin, but I am going to go ahead and begin with this…Thank You! You and the horses played a HUGE part in me becoming who I am today. I am forever grateful for the time and work you put in teaching me and sharing all of your endless knowledge with me. When I came to prison, I was lost and broken. And having you and the farm and the horses not only healed me, but helped me find my way. The years you have spent at TRF Second Chance farm have made a huge impact on so many broken people's lives…I applaud you, you have done so much good for so many people, it's truly inspiring. So again, thank you…You helped me turn my life around and for that I am eternally grateful.” –Carmen Padilla

“Mr Evans, I never expected to learn so much in such a short amount of time! You are the best teacher and mentor I've ever had. You have taught me life lessons and lessons about how to care for those beautiful horses. You have a beautiful spirit and I wish you the best and hope to see you soon! –Angie Rubiolo

“Thank you to Mr. Evans for believing in me even before I believed in myself. I am so lucky to have known such an amazing man, teacher and mentor. I had zero confidence coming into this program, scared I wasn't good enough. You helped me build that confidence to the point I no longer needed validation for everything I did anymore. Your trust was the most important thing. For example, if I was unsure of a horse's treatment or diagnosis, or the right way to handle it, you would turn to me and say, 'Well, you tell me what do you think should be done.' By giving me this time to talk about the problem, I would have actually solved it. I am so grateful for his teachings not only with the horses but the teaching within ourselves. Definitely the two most important things he gave me back were my confidence and trust. Thank you for giving me my best two years of growing. I wish you the best retirement, relax and enjoy. You definitely have given the tools to so many women to learn and be successful in life. I will never forget you! –Corinda Colins

“A real cowboy knows about pain, love and shame but never cares about being famous…you are an amazing person and famous to anyone who knows you. Thanks for your time and teaching.” –Rebecca Farless

As Evans started to get older, the inmates returned the favor and started to take care of their supervisor.

“These girls, especially after I got older, they wouldn't let me do anything,” he said. “All they wanted to know was what I knew and could teach them.”

He's been off the job about a week, and admits that he misses it.

“I got up this morning wanting to go to work,” he said. “But I didn't have a job. My dogs were the same. They wanted to go to work too.”

His wife Marsha, a retired professor at the University of Central Florida, is certain that Evans will come to miss the job even more.

“What I know that he doesn't know is how much he will miss the interaction with the women and miss how that was his primary focus. We've been getting cards and notes from graduates of the program and they will knock your socks off.”

Another inmate, who gave her name only as J.J., agrees.

“You are one special angel that God placed in my path,” she wrote in her tribute to Evans.

“My husband,” Marsha Evans said, “has made a huge difference in a lot of lives. It's something to be proud of.”

The post Having Made A ‘Huge Difference,’ TRF’s John Evans Retires appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A $1.4-million son of super sire Into Mischief (Hip 604) led a sextet of seven-figure sellers during the opening session of Book 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Wednesday. Consigned by Summerfield on behalf of Stonestreet Stables, the colt was purchased by Larry Best of OXO Equine.

With six horses eclipsing the million-dollar mark Wednesday, the sale total now comes to 28. During the equivalent session last year, just two yearlings brought seven figures, including the $1.7-million sale topper.

“It was a great session,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's Vice President of Sales. “When you are seeing six million-dollar plus horses in session three, getting us up to 28 for three days, you are bringing it back to 2006, 2007 levels, which is really encouraging. The average and median have ticked up again over last year. Overall, it was a really, solid competitive session. There was diversity in the buyers. It was great to see the money spread.”

Book 2 opened Wednesday with 219 head bringing $66,695,000 with an average of $304,543 and a median of $250,000. There were 77 horses that failed to meet their reserves. During the same session in 2021, 211 horses summoned $60,996,000 with an average of $289,081 and median of $230,000. There were 72 RNAs.

Through the first three days of selling, 439 yearlings have grossed $180,355,000 with an average of $410,831 and median of $325,000. A total of 139 yearlings have been bought back. During the first three days in 2021, 419 youngsters grossed $151,618,000 with an average of $361,857 and median of $290,000. There were 180 horses led out of the ring unsold.

The top 20 yearlings were all purchased by domestic buyers. The powerhouse group led by SF/Starlight/Madaket bought three of the six seven-figure sellers. All three colts–one each by Gun Runner, Quality Road and Into Mischief–were purchased for $1.05 million.

“A lot of domestic buyers participated and we are very grateful to them,” said Cormac Breathnach, Keeneland's Director of Sales. “The current purse structure in racing and their involvement in the sale just speaks volumes. We are very excited about it. We still have international buyers here on the grounds and they aren't finding it as easy as expected to fill orders. The energy from Book 1 continued into Book 2 and we look forward to it continuing into the next nine sessions.”

Gainesway had a great day Wednesday, selling a pair of million-dollar homebreds in Hip 603, a $1.3-million Tapit filly, and Hip 740, the $1.05 million Into Mischief colt. Antony Beck's operation was the session's leading seller by gross receipts, with 27 yearlings bringing $9.78 million with an average of $362,222.

The second of two Book 2 sessions gets underway Thursday at 11 a.m.

Best on Top for Into Mischief Colt

Larry Best found a colt by Into Mischief (hip 604) who checked all the proverbial boxes and the owner outlasted a phone bidder to take the yearling home for a session-topping $1.4 million at Keeneland Wednesday. Out of stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown), the bay was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet. After signing the ticket on the colt in the pavilion, Best rushed off to watch his Fortin Hill (Mucho Macho Man) win an optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“It's always good when the breeder, after you buy him, offers to partner with you on the horse,” Best said after speaking with Banke. “I love Into Mischief. I have all these filters that I use and rarely does a horse meet all the filters when it's a colt. That's why you don't see me buying many colts. My filter is pretty stringent. Believe it or not, this one cleared them all. And I thought, 'why am I not buying the horse when I bought all of these others Into Mischiefs and done well with most of them?' So I waited until I saw him in the ring again and I said, 'If I am going to roll the dice at a big number for a colt, I am going to stick with Into Mischief and this one looks as good as I've seen.”

Best said the odds were against him when he was looking ahead to hip 604 making it as a stallion.

“In racing, it is so hard to win one race,” Best said. “The likelihood of getting a horse that becomes a sire is remote, but this is my shot. I'll give it a shot because I love the bloodlines.

He is magnificent. He looks like Into Mischief, he is just well-balanced and a beautiful horse. But I can't emphasize enough, when you are buying colts, the risk is very high. And you almost have to be willing to lose on colts. With fillies, if you buy good fillies, you can love those horses for 10 years plus. ”

Best's broodmare band is still in its early stages, but he has already enjoyed plenty of success as a seller.

“My first horse that I ever bought was Moi (Medaglia d'Oro),” Best recalled. “I paid $750,000 and I thought I was nuts. She didn't do very well on the racetrack, but her third foal I sold for $570,000 as a weanling and Archie St. George's just sold him for $1.05 million [as hip 344 Tuesday at Keeneland]. I think maybe I'm doing something right.”

Best concluded, “So, do I need luck on this one? I need a whole lot of luck, but he's a beautiful horse.” @JessMartiniTDN

Larry Best admires his $1.4 million purchase (hip 604) back at the Summerfield barn at #KeeSept! pic.twitter.com/CYqBRHJSMV

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 14, 2022

Stonestreet Yearlings Shine Wednesday

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet helped Book 2 get off to a strong start when selling a colt by Curlin (hip 410) for $925,000 to Don and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farm and the operation came back later in the session to sell a colt by Into Mischief (hip 604) for a $1.4 million to Larry Best.

“We loved him,” Banke said of the Into Mischief session topper, who is the first foal out of the Stonestreet homebred and multiple Grade I-placed Dawn the Destroyer (Speightstown). “He's a great colt out of a great race mare. He was definitely one that I would love to stay in on, but I know Larry doesn't take partners. I may ask him anyway. He is a really good colt.”

Dawn the Destroyer, who finished second in the GI Ballerina S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint in 2019, was bred to Curlin this year.

Hip 410 is out of Road to Victory (Quality Road), winner of the 2017 GII Golden Rod S. Stonestreet purchased the mare, in foal to War Front, for $1.45 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“I thought he would be very well received,” Banke said of the yearling. “He was a beautiful colt out of a good mare and by Curlin. He should be a very nice two-turn type horse.”

After a quiet Book 1, Stonestreet made its mark on the first session of Book 2, with seven yearlings sold for $3.8 million.

“We are just getting into the thick of it now,” Banke said Wednesday morning. “We sold four at Saratoga and we have six or seven to sell today and a lot more coming up.”

Through three sessions, Courtlandt Farm has purchased 11 yearlings for $8,235,000. The farm's new yearlings include three seven-figure purchases: a filly by Into Mischief (hip 359) for $1.35 million; a colt by Into Mischief (hip 344); and a son of City of Light (hip 73) for $1 million. @JessMartiniTDN

Gun Runner Colt Draws a Crowd

A trio of high-profile owners teamed up to acquire a colt by Gun Runner (hip 694) for $1.15 million late in Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland September sale. Bloodstock agent Justin Casse signed the ticket on the yearling on behalf of John Oxley, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, and Breeze Easy.

“Everybody loves Gun Runner these days,” Casse said of the Woods Edge Farm-consignee. “They all seem to have very good walks and tremendous movement. He has a very good topline. He was a class act on the end of the shank from day one. He comes from a good nursery–they raise a good horse.”

After watching the strength of the market this week at Keeneland, Casse admitted he was not surprised by the colt's seven-figure price tag.

“If you had asked me three days ago, I probably would have said it wouldn't go that high,” Casse said. “I would have said maybe in the $600,000 range, but the way that things have headed, I have a hard time distinguishing what makes a horse like that bring over $1 million, other than the two right people are on him.”

The chestnut colt is out of multiple stakes winner and multiple graded placed Kathballu (Bluegrass Cat). He was consigned by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm, which purchased him for $185,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“He was vetted nearly 20 times,” O'Callaghan said of the yearling's popularity at the barn. “I would say all the big money was on him. It seemed like they all followed him up here. He was just a lovely, lovely colt, very much in the mold of his sire. He was very straightforward. He was a very nice colt when we bought him and did fabulous. Wonderful temperament. Very solid.”

O'Callaghan admitted he was a big fan of exciting young stallion Gun Runner.

“All these Gun Runners are easy to train,” he said. “They take the hardships. We've never had a stallion like this guy. We've had some great sires–Tapit, Into Mischief, Uncle Mo–but Gun Runner is a little bit extra. It's incredible.”

The million-dollar transacation continued a big day for both Woods Edge's pinhooks and homebreds.

On the pinhooking front, Woods Edge sold a filly by Flatter (hip 403) for $425,000. The filly had been purchased for $190,000 from the Pin Oak Stud dispersal held at Fasig-Tipton last September. Also Wednesday, Woods Edge sold a yearling full-sister to GISW Consumer Spending (More Than Ready) (hip 434) for $650,000 to Mike Ryan. The operation had purchased the filly for $240,000 at the Keeneland November sale last fall; and a Twirling Candy colt (hip 739), acquired for $175,000 at Keeneland November, for $400,000 to M.V. Magnier.

Hip 621, a Twirling Candy filly bred by Woods Edge, sold for $925,000 to Rigney Racing, and hip 520, a homebred son of City of Light, sold for $400,000 to CRK Stable.

Woods Edge sold 11 horses Wednesday for $5,205,000.

“The market is great, but it's the same story,” O'Callaghan said. “You have to be good. It has to be the right sire and it has to vet. If you want to break out, you have to be squeaky clean.”   @JessMartiniTDN

Sold for $1.15 million to Justin Casse for Oxley & MV Magnier, @breezeeasyllc! https://t.co/uL2TbpEMQ7

— TDN (@theTDN) September 15, 2022

Pope Returns to the Well For Tapit Filly

Mandy Pope went to $1.3 million to secure MSW & GSP Danzatrice (Dunkirk)'s Tapit colt at this auction last year and she returned to the well Wednesday, buying his full-sister (Hip 603) for $1.1 million. Trainer Chad Brown, acting on behalf of client Peter Brant, was the underbidder.

“We bought the brother [Tapit Trice] last year,” Pope said. “We have him in training. Gainesway stayed in for a little part of him. He is with Todd Pletcher right now and we have high hopes for him. We are going to make a nice family here.”

As for the filly, the Whisper Hill Farm owner said, “I thought she had a nice hip, a nice heart girth and moved really well.”

Danzatrice is a half-sister to champion juvenile filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic). Gainesway bought the mare for $105,000 as a 2-year-old at the OBS April sale. Her first foal, a now gelding named General Strike (Union Rags), sold for $250,000 at this auction and Tapit Trice was her second foal.

“It was Antony [Beck]'s strategy” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “He had several Tapit fillies and he wanted to split them up a little bit. I really wouldn't have been able to pick between them honestly. They both had things to like about them. I preferred this one a little bit and the price showed it at the end of the day, but they were pretty close.”

—@CDeBernardisTDN

Sold for $1.1 million to Mandy Pope! https://t.co/RrYq9uhZyZ

— TDN (@theTDN) September 14, 2022

SF/Starlight/Madaket Strike Early

The powerhouse colt partnership led by SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket Stables made their presence felt early in Wednesday's Book 2 opener, going to $1.05 million for a colt by young sire standout Gun Runner (Hip 383). The bay was consigned by Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm on behalf of breeder Ann Fostock.

“He is a beautiful horse raised by really wonderful people,” said SF's Tom Ryan. “Gun Runner is a sensation. There is no other way to describe him. He has five Grade I winners from his first 120 runners. It is an amazing feat. Bob loved this horse. Donato loved this horse. John Moynihan is part of this horse. Everybody that saw him [liked him]. It was a consensus vote. We are happy to land him.”

Out of Perfect Flute (Pleasantly Perfect), Hip 383 hails from a deep Juddmonte family. His second dam is MGISW and Kentucky Oaks-winning millionaire Flute (Seattle Slew), who is the dam of MGSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). This is also the female family of GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft) and GSW Current (Curlin).

“He was a special horse,” said Crestwood's Marc McLean. “He's a horse we thought could break through and it happened. It was a nice surprise. He was bred by a client, he was foaled and raised at our farm. He has always been a standout. He has such good scope and size and that's what made him special. We got lucky and got him in the right spot. We were pretty busy this morning; buyers kept coming back, which is a good thing. He was early in the session, which made us nervous, but I believe everybody had done their homework. Hopefully he was one of the standouts on the day, but you don't know until you get here.”

The SF/Starlight/Madaket team sparked fireworks late in the session, securing a son of Into Mischief (Hip 740) for the same $1.05 million.

“We love Into Mischief. We've bought seven of them now [at KEESEP],” Ryan said. “How could you not love Into Mischief? He is out of a very good racemare and is by a very good sire. He is a horse Bob Baffert loved immediately, so we are happy to own him.”

Consigned and bred by Gainesway, Hip 740 is out of GSW & MGISP More Chocolate (Malibu Moon).

“This is where I thought the horse belonged,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “The mare is getting a bit middle-aged. I am especially proud of that one. Antony [Beck] let me do that mating during the Covid times. We thought he was a really nice colt physically.”

In between those colts, the partnership once again paid $1.05 million for a Quality Road colt (Hip 574) who is a full-brother to the stakes-winning Stillwater Cove.

The SF/Starlight/Madaket team, guided by bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, have purchased a total of 14 yearling colts for a sale-best $9.88 million through the first three days of bidding. —@CDeBernardisTDN

Hip 740, an Into Mischief colt, hammers at $1.05 million from the @Gainesway consignment. Donato Lanni agent for SF/@StarlightRacing/Madaket signs the ticket. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/8wB6wMN7gr

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 15, 2022

Million-Dollar Score for Hancock

Rowland Hancock, who has been breeding Thoroughbreds for over four decades, had his first seven-figure sale when Tom Ryan signed the ticket at $1.05 million on a colt by Quality Road (hip 574) on behalf of the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership. The dark bay colt is out of Celibataire (Broken Vow), a full-sister to graded winner Interactif and dam of stakes winner Stillwater Cove (Quality Road). Hancock purchased the mare, in foal to Union Rags, for $180,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale.

“I had seen her yearling the year before and I fell in love with the yearling,” Hancock said of the mare's appeal. “Anybody that could produce something that beautiful, I wanted to own.”

Of his first million-dollar yearling, who was consigned by Crestwood Farm, Hancock said, “This colt was something. He is one of the most balanced, classy horses I've ever seen. I've bred some fairly good horses, but he was just special. You always read about these classy horses who want to walk and never get mad, keep their demeanor. He exemplified that. He loved to walk. He loved to get out.”

Celibataire's first foal for Hancock was a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2019. He retained the mare's Gun Runner filly, Cause Celebre, who ran at Kentucky Downs just after her half-brother lit up the board at Keeneland. Celibataire's 2-year-old daughter of Justify sold for $215,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The mare was bred to Mendelssohn this year.

Hancock has eight mares in his broodmare band.

“I've been doing this for 47 years,” he said of his breeding operation. “This is the culmination of doing it for a long time.”

Hip 383 was the second seven-figure purchase of Wednesday's session for the SF/Starlight/Madaket partnership, which struck early in the day to acquire a Gun Runner colt, also consigned by the McLean family's Crestwood Farm, for $1.05 million.

“We love Quality Road, he's a great, proven stallion,” Ryan said of the purchase. “It's a very nice family. He's a half to a stakes-winning filly. He's a very straightforward colt.”

Of the colt's final price tag, Ryan said, “The market is very strong, it's carried through from Book 1 to Book 2 very nicely. But he's a big, strong Quality Road colt who was well-raised and with a proper pedigree. It's not that surprising.”

Enjoying the dual $1.05-million sales, Marc McLean said, “It's been a great day; unbelievable really.”

He added of the Quality Road colt, “He was not a huge colt, but just a beautiful mover. We wouldn't dream he would go that high. It was a good job by the sales team. Both of these were for clients and were raised and foaled at our farm. It is rewarding.” @JessMartiniTDN

Seeing double… Hip 574 a Quality Road colt out of Celibataire marks the second seven-figure sale for the combination of @CrestwoodKY as seller, @DonatoLanni, agent as buyer, $1.05 million as the final price tag. #KeeSept pic.twitter.com/nKSA6M98fi

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 14, 2022

Into Mischief Filly A Fitting Tribute to Late Dam

Stakes winner Steelin' (Orientate) was very good to the team at Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch's Stonehaven Steadings during her 14-year tenure with them, producing a champion in her very first foal Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday). Sadly, the Reddoch family lost Steelin' last year, but her final foal, a filly by Into Mischief (Hip 459), paid fitting tribute to her late dam Wednesday, bringing $900,000 from WinStar's Maverick Racing and Siena Farm.

“We loved her physique,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden. “She is a really strong filly. The pedigree works with Shanghai Bobby and another daughter has already had a graded stakes winner, both are by Harlan's Holiday. She is something we can put in the broodmare band as well.”

The Reddochs' daughter Leah O'Meara was first to congratulate Walden after he signed the ticket with her parents and husband Aidan O'Meara not far behind her.

“This is her last foal,” Leah O'Meara said. “We lost the mare before we weaned her. This was kind of her swan song. We didn't really want to bring her to the sale, but we have every other filly out of the mare. We still have the family and have sold well out of the family. This was a beautiful result.”

Stonehaven Steadings purchased Steelin', who was coincidentally bred by WinStar, for $155,000 at the 2009 KEENOV sale. The resulting colt sold for just $105,000 at KEESEP, but became champion and sire Shanghai Bobby. They have not offered many of Steelin's foals at auction, but her 2015 Tapit colt brought $500,000 from Winchell Thoroughbreds at this auction. The Reddochs sent Steelin' through the ring in 2015 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in foal to Medaglia d'Oro, but RNA'd her for $1.775 million. Her daughter Miz Kella (Harlan's Holiday) is the dam of MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile).

Stonehaven Steadings has been having a strong Keeneland September Sale thus far, selling seven yearlings for $6.975 million with an average of $996,429, including the current sale topper, a $2.5-million colt by Quality Road (Hip 97). The nursery also produced recently retired champion and OBS April sale topper 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road).

“It's been unbelievable,” O'Meara said. “This is the perfect storm. This is the best crop we have ever brought to a sale and to be this well received in a market so strong is just unreal. There are no words. I am thankful. Everyone will benefit. It will trickle down to everybody.” —@CDeBernardisTDN

Coolmore & Breeze Easy Team Up on Gun Runner Colt

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier teamed up with Mike Hall of Breeze Easy to acquire a son of the red-hot Gun Runner (Hip 640) for $825,000 Wednesday.

“Gun Runner is obviously doing very well as a stallion,” said Magnier. “Three Chimneys is a very good breeder and all the guys really liked the horse. Hopefully he is good.”

He added, “We are partnering with Breeze Easy. They are very nice people and we enjoy doing business with them.”

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, Hip 640 was bred by the Torrealba family's Three Chimneys Farm, which stands Gun Runner. The operation purchased the colt's GSP dam Flatter Up (Flatter) for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale in foal to the late Arrogate. She hails from the family of MGISW and stallion Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile).  —@CDeBernardisTDN

Wednesday closes with a three-day total of 28 million-dollar #KeeSept yearlings, the most since 2007… Thank you to our buyers and sellers! pic.twitter.com/KjauH4gJHG

— Keeneland Sales (@keenelandsales) September 15, 2022

The post Into Mischief Colt Tops Another Banner Day at KEESEP appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“He's been making some good really progress,” said his sister and legal guardian, Ashley Canchari. “Him getting on the horse really shows a lot when it comes to his recovery. Just being able to balance himself on the horse without support was a big step.”

For Canchari, who began riding in 2011 and whose brother Alex is currently riding at Prairie Meadows, March 17, 2020 was supposed to be like any other day. Scheduled to work some horses, he was driving to Turf Paradise and was only a block away from the track when his vehicle collided with another car.

The situation was extremely serious. He broke his neck and suffered a grade 3 diffuse axonal brain injury, considered one of the most severe forms of traumatic brain injury.

The Canchari family, unable to visit Patrick in the hospital because of COVID-19 restrictions, was presented with a dire prognosis. And with Canchari still in a coma two months after the accident, it was hard not to expect the worst.

“Basically, his neurocritical team said he most likely he would be vegetated and paralyzed the rest of his life,” his sister said. “They said that most of his progress would come within the first year and then after that it would fizzle out.”

He still has a long way to go. Ashley Canchari said that her brother is not able to live independently. Even if he is walking with a cane, someone needs to be at his side in case he loses his balance. She admits that, cognitively, he's not the same as we were before the accident and that there are issues with his memory. But what is so encouraging is that he continues to get better every day, something many experts saw as unlikely if not impossible. That's why getting up on a horse was such a big deal.

“That he continues to make progress is why we are hopeful that the next step will be that he will get to a point where he can be as close to being as independent as possible,” Ashley Canchari said. “We've worked with a lot of his specialists and doctors, world renowned specialists, and they are just amazed at the progress he has made.”

Out of the hospital, Patrick moved in with his sister in October of 2020. His friends and family, refusing to give up hope that he could get better, looked everywhere for answers.

“We sought out a lot of alternative therapies and treatments, which have helped,” she said. “We used supplements and modified his diet, down to his drinking water. We put a lot of research into trying to help him recover.”

Canchari believes that her brother would not have made the progress he has had his friends and family given up hope that he could recover.

“I was adamant from get go that we needed to keep a positive mind set and believe that anything is possible,” she said. “We needed to remain optimistic despite what everyone else was saying. If you get stuck in a doom-and-gloom cycle then everything else is impacted. We just tried to keep an optimistic mind set and truly believe these milestones could be reached.”

That Canchari got aboard a horse does not mean that he is going to ride in a race anytime soon. But it did provide his family with another ray of hope.

“We are starting off pretty slowly,” Ashley said. “He hopes to ride again but there are still a lot of things that we are working on. He's already done a lot that doctors and specialists said would never happen so I am confident that anything is possible.”

She hopes that he will be able to walk on his own within a year and lead a more independent life.

“For him to walk independently, without the assistance of cane or a walker or anything else, would be a huge development,” she said.

She said that her brother has set a goal to return to the track as an exercise rider some time in 2024. If he is able to do that, then, maybe the next step would be for him to ride in races. Can it happen? It would mean defying the odds, but no one is ruling that out.

The post After Near Fatal Accident, Jockey Patrick Canchari Reaches New Milestone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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This increased population of ticks can put horses and other farm animals, as well as those taking care of them, at risk for tick-borne diseases, which means it is not only important to know how to manage and/or prevent them, but also how to get them tested for infectious diseases.

Ticks gravitate to wooded and/or grassy areas, which means the average horse farm is a prime habitat for these parasites. They crawl to the tops of blades of grass, and with their front legs outstretched, then attach to their hosts as they walk by or are grazing. While some may bite immediately, many will make their way to a warm and somewhat protected area of their host where the skin may be thinner, which on horses is often the forelock, mane, tail or inside of their flank, though they can also be found on other parts of a horse's body.

Once a tick attaches to its host, it will fill with their blood, at which time they can also transmit bacteria, diseases and/or blood parasites, before dropping off to molt, and in the case of female ticks, to lay eggs.

Tick-Borne Diseases

In addition to their bites causing skin irritation, ticks can carry and subsequently infect their equine host with a bevy of serious diseases. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the most common tick-borne diseases that pose a threat to equines in North American are Equine Piroplasmosis, Lyme Disease, Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (Ehrlichiosis) and Tick Paralysis.

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) – This blood-borne protozoal infection causes fever, reduced appetite, anemia, exercise intolerance, weight loss, labored breathing, and colic and the mortality rate can reach 50 percent. Blood tests are used to diagnose EP and horses that test positive must either be placed under quarantine and enroll in a USDA-APHIS-approved treatment program until all diagnostic tests are negative or be euthanized.

Lyme Disease – Most commonly transmitted by the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection that can cause swollen and/or painful joints, uveitis, stiffness/lameness, low-grade fever and chronic weight loss, among other symptoms. Drugs such as doxycycline or oxytetracycline have been successful in treating infected horses. A rarer form of Lyme Disease is neuroborreliosis, which occurs when the bacteria affects the horse's central nervous system and can be fatal.

Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (Ehrlichiosis) – This seasonal bacterial tick-borne disease can cause fever, depression, mild limb edema and ataxia. While younger horses (>1 year) may present with a fever only, adult horses will likely present with multiple symptoms and geriatric horses may be affected more significantly. Oxytetracycline is an extremely effective treatment, and horses with severe ataxia and edema may also benefit from a short-term course of corticosteroids and an anti-inflammatory.

Tick Paralysis – Though rare in horses (the first North American cases were reported in 2019), Tick Paralysis will present as weakness, labored breathing, reduced coordination/stumbling and lack of appetite and quickly evolve into recumbency. Affected horses may also incur secondary symptoms, including pressure sores, corneal ulcers, pneumonia and sepsis. In the initial U. S. cases, it was found that horses regained neurological normalcy within 48 hours of the removal of the ticks. The tick bite sites were also treated with topical permethrin.

Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks infected with any of the diseases mentioned do not typically transfer their pathogens immediately. Rather, they typically attach themselves and feed for up to 24 hours before disease transfer occurs. As such, checking horses daily for ticks and removing them as soon as possible is imperative in preventing tick-borne diseases from infecting a horse.

Since many ticks are quite small, it is often easier to feel for ticks then to see them, so be sure to run your hands over your horse thoroughly, especially their mane, forelock, tail and inner flanks.

The AAEP advises that should you find a tick/ticks on a horse, put on gloves (latex or nitrile) and grasp the tick with your fingers or tweezers as close to the head as possible and slowly and firmly pull it straight up from the site of the bite. Put the tick in a jar filled with rubbing alcohol to kill it, along with any disease it may be carrying. Then, wash the bite site and your hands with a mild antibacterial soap.

When removing ticks from horses or other animals (or yourself), do not:

– Do not crush or twist the tick while it is attached to the horse (this will cause it to regurgitate blood back into the animal, increasing the chance of infection or disease transmission).

– Do not apply baby oil, petroleum, nail polish, etc. in an effort to smother the tick (such efforts are not effective and can cause skin irritation to the horse at the bite site).

– Do not attempt to detach the tick with a lit match (this method is ineffective and can cause serious risk and injury to the horse).

Removing brush and keeping pastures mowed is an easy and effective way to deter ticks.

Not all fly repellants deter ticks, but topical insect sprays, powders and wipes containing coumaphos, pyrethrins, synthetic pyrethroids and seta-cypermethrin are an effective way to protect horses from tick bites. Name brands such as Co-Ral, Deep Woods Off and Frontline spray have proven efficacy against ticks.

Orally administered ivermectin or moxidectin dewormers are effective against ticks, however a tick must take a blood meal from the host horse in order for it to be effective. Amitraz, while effective in treating dogs for tick infestations, is toxic to horses and should not be administered.

Pyrethrin, Permethrin, Cypermethrin and commercial grade pyrethroids can be applied to pastures to kill ticks in the environment, but label directions should be followed closely and careful consideration should be made for pastures containing foals three months or less in age.

Tick Surveillance Study

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's Entomology Department is currently conducting a tick surveillance study to identify what areas have higher concentrations of ticks carrying infectious diseases.

Dr. Reddy Palli, Entomology Department chair and a state entomologist, says he and his team began surveying ticks throughout Kentucky roughly two years ago. In that time, they have been able to gather significant data for their study.

“We are conducting surveillance, speciation and pathogen screening of ticks collected in Kentucky in order to inform the public about the presence of ticks and the pathogens they carry,” said Palli. “In general, there seems to be an increase in tick-borne diseases. Many factors could contribute to this, such as climate change, increases in tourism and deforestation.”

If you find a tick and want to submit it to the study for pathogen testing, you can fill out the submission form and send in the specimen (instructions for how to prepare the specimen can be found here). The study team will alert those who send in ticks if any pathogens are detected in the ticks they submit.

Depending on your county and state of residence, your local extension office may offer the option for you to submit ticks for testing via mail (in a sealed plastic container with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball) and will contact you if the tick(s) test positive for any pathogens.

“For those outside of Kentucky, land grant universities have extension entomologists that may be able to help [with similar resources],” added Beth Wilson, a Kentucky Horticulture Agent.

The post Don’t Get Ticked: Know the Risks Ticks Pose and How to Protect Your Horse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The short answer, according to the HISA Authority's chief executive officer, Lisa Lazarus, is yes.

But her slightly longer explanation tells us the Authority is trying to give trainers–who are additionally tasked with registering all horses under their care and maintaining daily records of their conditioning–a grace period during which they will be prodded to comply so scratches won't have to happen.

“A horse will only be scratched if it or the trainer is not registered,” Lazarus said. “What we tried to build in was kind of a safety mechanism for you in these early months, which is you can enter a horse, but when you enter a horse [without HISA registration], the racing office will get a flag that says, 'can't race.' They will then reach out to you and say, 'You're in the race, but you've got to get this done by start time, or race time, or else you're scratched. Based on most racing calendars, that will give you a couple days, at least, to do it. And that will essentially be the warning.”

But horses and trainers aren't the only ones required by federal law to be registered under HISA. Everyone who holds a state racing commission license–including owners, jockeys, jockey agents, exercise riders, stable employees, pony personnel, outriders, racing office staff, veterinarians, farriers and backstretch vendors–have to sign up too.

And although it won't result in a scratch, Ann McGovern, representing HISA's Racetrack Safety Committee, added that, “if your jockey isn't registered by scratch time, you'll have to have a rider change.”

The Authority's reps underscored that the newly operational HISA registration portal is a work-in-progress endeavor, and it's scheduled to be updated with a slate of changes by Monday based on feedback from users who've already registered themselves and their horses. Additional tweaks will be rolled out as the process evolves.

The HISA speakers acknowledged the daunting nature of the work that looms in the weeks ahead, and made it known that the Authority will be depending upon the input of horsemen and women to help make the process less time consuming.

“We know we're going to make mistakes. We just do. We're dealing with a really tough timeline,” said John Roach, HISA's general counsel. But, he added, “We'll talk to you. We'll figure it out. We'll work collaboratively with you. And I hope that even when we disagree about things, you know that we will listen and we'll try and do the right thing.”

Roach continued: “You should go ahead and get all your registration done. It's important to get it done before July 1. But we understand that this is a new system; this is new technology. So we are not going to stop anybody from entering.”

Other complexities within the HISA framework still seem a little shy on details–at least based on the way they were discussed during the June 3 webcast.

Take a trainer's maintenance of records, for example. Here's how Roach put it:

“Trainers are not responsible for [providing] any kind of information or data to HISA. You are required under the rules to maintain certain records. They have to be available for inspection. The vets will have to do the inputting. But as it relates to your records, you just need to maintain them. The safety rules set forth what you are to maintain.”

But then McGovern interjected to say that when a horse gets claimed and goes to a new owner, additional trainer responsibilities will come into play.

“If a horse is claimed, you are responsible for making a copy of those [training] records and giving that, along with the veterinary records, to the new trainer of the claimed horse,” McGovern said.

One audience member wanted to know how far back the training records have to go. McGovern answered 30 days. Then someone else asked for a clarification of what “training records” actually mean.

“Whatever records you think would be necessary,” McGovern answered. “But in our minds, you know the big board on the end of everyone's shedrow that has the horse's name, [and notations of] 'jogged, worked,' all that good stuff? [Whether the horse] had a supplement in his feed. Did he hand-walk that day? What did you do with the horse on a daily basis? You could take a picture of that board and put it in a file every day…. If that's what you want to do, that would be fine too.”

If it struck anyone on the webcast as unusual that a digital image of a magic-markered white board hung in someone's barn would suffice as a precise “training record” under the federal HISA guidelines, no one said so.

Nor did any of the Authority reps go into detail about exactly how or when trainers would be required to transfer those records to the people who claimed the horse.

Other questions from industry participants focused on the registration process itself. Each horse for example, must have not only a HISA registration, but also a “designated owner” and a “responsible person” associated with it.

But what if five people own a horse in partnership? Do all five have to be registered? And who among them gets listed as the designated owner?

“There only needs to be one designated owner to take responsibility for the horse,” Lazarus said. “[Partners] can decide amongst [themselves] who that's going to be. We do want all owners to register. But with regards to the initial enforcement piece, et cetera, really we're going to be focusing on the designated owner.

Added Roach, “If [an] owner is not licensed because they own such a small percentage that they're not required to be licensed [at the state level], they do not have to register.”

Lazarus also attempted to smooth over confusion related to the differences between being licensed at the state level while also needing to meet the federal requirement to be registered under HISA.

“This is a one-time registration. It's not an annual registration. And it has no actual connection to your state license,” Lazarus said.

Then why is a state racing license identification number listed as one of the HISA registration requirements?

“The only reason that we ask for a state license number is to make the whole process easier for you,” Lazarus said. “If you give us a state license number, we can go into the ARCI system and help pre-populate your information [so it gets auto-filled on the online form]. It's a one-time registration, a one-time number [provided by HISA]. Once you do it, unless something dramatically changes, you never have to do it again. And that [HISA] number stays with you forever.”

What if you are licensed in multiple states? Which license number do you provide to HISA?

“You can enter any license number,” from any state, Lazarus replied. “That is just to help [the system] figure out who you are, to make your input time shorter and to make it a less onerous process for you. Later though, there's a separate box that asks you to check all the states that you're licensed in. When you get to that screen, you should check all the states that you're licensed in. You don't need to provide the numbers.”

There were also concerns about whether it's a trainer's responsibility to register their licensed employees. The trainer is not required to do that, but the Authority is asking trainers to encourage their staff to sign up themselves.

“There's no legal consequence for a trainer if an employee doesn't register,” Roach said. “There may be a consequence for the employee depending on what activity they want to engage in and where they want to be and go.”

There was also uncertainty among trainers about what happens when a horse leaves the track to go to a lay-up facility or offsite training center. Who becomes the responsible party?

“If the farm manager is a registered person, and the [horse's] owner is comfortable with making that the responsible person, that can happen if the horse is going to be there for some time,” McGovern said. “If not, the trainer would remain the responsible person and would be responsible for getting the [training] records from the farm manager.

Roach clarified whether or not caretakers at a farm would also have to register under the HISA system.

“If the farm employees are licensed by [a] racing commission, and they have contact [with] Thoroughbred horses, they need to be registered,” Roach said. “If they are not licensed, they do not have to register with [HISA]. No one that is not licensed [by a commission] has to register with us.”

The post Missing July 1 HISA Deadline Could Result in Scratches appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“In the same way that sweat, manure and urine attract flies, so too, do improperly balanced fluids,” said Barbara Socha of Signal-Health, the North American distributer of Equiwinner. “Because improperly balanced fluids in skin moisture or bodily secretions actually attract flies, particularly fluid exuding from the eyes, when the electrolytes are balanced and working properly, it can deter flying insects.”

Deanna Searles, an AQHA trainer who has used Equiwinner for more than four years for horses that have trouble sweating in the summer heat of Scottsdale, Arizona, has noticed over time that her horses treated with Equiwinner patches have significantly less flies and bugs bothering them than their herd mates.

“Recently we tried Equiwinner on a horse that had tons of flies–just swarms of flies on his neck on both sides,” said Searles. “After using the Equiwinner patches for 10 days, the flies don't seem to bother him anymore.”

For additional information, click here.

The post Patch Reduces Attraction Of Flies To Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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It was a typical Barbados day, the sun beaming down on a near cloudless morning high above the dirt road in the parish of St. Thomas, along the familiar route the teenager would sometimes traverse to and from Grantley Adams Secondary.

This walk, however, was unlike any other he had taken before.

“There was a horse farm, no more than a quarter-mile from my house, probably less than that, which I could see from my window,” Trotman started. “One day, I heard these voices, and they seemed like they were calling to me. And I thought to myself, 'I'm going to go see what this is all about.' I made the decision to do that, to take those steps, and it changed my life.”

A young life that was in turmoil.

“Growing up in an abusive family, knowing how things were in my house, I used to pray every day and ask God when things were going to change, when they would get better. Seeing my father abuse my mother, it was horrible. All she did was work hard and support her family. She was a stay-at-home mom, who did everything to take care of us. I needed something to turn to. It became the horses.”

Some days, Trotman would skip school just to be around them.

Gradually, his connection with the horses grew, as did his self-confidence and the want of a better life.

“I got caught up on the streets, hanging out with the wrong company. It's not what or who I wanted to be. I knew that wasn't the life I wanted to live. I wanted something better for myself. God, he put me into horse racing and because of that, my whole life changed.”

More than he had ever imagined.

In 1990, Trotman made the decision to leave Barbados to pursue a life in racing.

“My brother was reading the newspaper and saw that there was an opportunity to go to Canada to work with horses at Woodbine. Here I was, a skinny teenage kid from Barbados showing up on the backstretch at one of the best racetracks in the world.”

His first job was as a groom for Hall of Fame trainer Gord Huntley.

Trotman also freelanced when he was done each morning working for Huntley, a conditioner whose operation typically saw several of his band claimed or sold.

“By July or August, there weren't many horses around with Gord. [Trainers] Steve Owens and Rich Papa were in the same barn and when I finished work with Gord around 10 in the morning, I would go work for other people doing different things here and there. When I got laid-off from Gord, I continued to help Steve.”

His association with Owens would eventually be a game changer for Trotman.

But it wouldn't come without its hurdles.

“I ended up going back home because the government in Canada felt it was unfair to give certain jobs to workers who came from outside of the country. But thankfully, it got cleared up and when I came back, I started working with Steve. One day, we were just talking and he told me to go out and get my assistant trainer license. Steve and his wife, they gave me the opportunity to get my assistant trainer's license and to start making a name for myself.”

Trotman did exactly that.

He remembered what he was taught in Barbados, words he recalled every morning he came to the backstretch.

“I had to earn respect from people, and I worked hard to do that. Growing up in Barbados, you were taught early on that respect is something that you earn. Respect can take you so far. I always had that in my head. I listened and learned from people every day.”

When tragedy struck the Woodbine backstretch in August – a barn fire swept through multiple barns with 32 horses perishing as a result – Trotman was thrust into a new role working for Owens, who lost all 14 of his horses.

In the aftermath of the fire, he began working with the veterinarians assigned to the case, leading to a new racetrack role in the form of veterinary assistant.

Those new skills, along with countless others he had learned along the way, would play an integral role in the next chapter of his Thoroughbred career when he went to work as assistant trainer to Reade Baker.

Trotman recalled two early conversations he had with the veteran conditioner.

“Reade would be in Florida at times, and I would have to run the barn until he came home. The first time I called him and asked him what he wants me to do, he said, 'I gave you a job to do and if you can't do it, let me find somebody else.' And that really made me think. A little while later, I had another question for him because there was a problem going on. His response was, 'Don't call me with a problem, call me with solutions.' For me, a young guy from the Caribbean, someone telling me that meant so much because I was always hoping for this kind of opportunity, to have that responsibility, and he gave it to me. That's how I took it. I felt like I just won the lottery. I said to myself, 'Let's get to work and solve the problem.' And I did.”

The two men formed a formidable duo over their time together, sending out a slew of horses to stakes success while perennially charting in the upper ranks of the Woodbine training colony.

They got out of the gates quickly working as a tandem.

“My very first horse I prepared for Reade as an assistant went out and won. The horse was called Fire Power. We ran the horse a few weeks later, and he won again. It was so thrilling.”

But it was an Alberta-bred named Free Fee Lady who delivered Trotman with his most cherished moments working alongside Baker.

The daughter of Victory Gallop, owned by Harlequin Ranches, didn't show much in her morning works in the weeks leading up to her first start in the spring of 2006.

Something, however, caught Trotman's attention.

“Other fillies she worked with kept on getting the better of her. My eyes were seeing something no one else was seeing. Reade wanted to run her in a claimer but I asked him to run her at maiden special weight. He said, 'I don't think she'll be able to do that.' I begged him to give me one chance with her and she just got beat in a maiden special weight race.”

Free Fee Lady would go one better in both the Bison City and Wonder Where, the final two jewels in the Canadian Triple Tiara.

After the Wonder Where score, Baker, in his post-race interview in the Woodbine winner's circle, praised Trotman.

It took a few seconds for Trotman to process the moment and words he was hearing.

“Reade said my name in the winner's circle. He said that if it wasn't for his assistant trainer, this filly would have been running for claiming. Hearing him say that in the winner's circle, that meant the world to me. He didn't have to do that. He could have taken all the credit, but he didn't. I never forgot that.”

Just as he didn't forget an offer that had come his way during his 11 years with Baker.

Fellow Barbadian and champion jockey Patrick Husbands had approached Trotman in 2012 about becoming his agent.

Trotman mulled over the opportunity, but not for long.

“I'm a loyal person and things were going so well. It wasn't the right time and that's not me.”

A few years later, Husbands asked the question once more.

“It was the right time. I had a chance to be farm manager, but after talking to Reade, who I always passed things by, he told me to be in the public eye and that wouldn't have made me happy. When Patrick asked me again to be his agent, I asked Reade what he thought. He said, 'Leroy, go get it.'”

And so, Trotman did.

In 2016, he took over the reins as Husbands' agent, a job that came with a steady number of new challenges and plenty of unknowns.

“I was a horseman, but I learned about the business side with Reade. You need an understanding of business to do this job right. Self-employed, paying taxes – all of those things were new to me. I went into it with a little bit of fear, but life challenges are something you need to accept. If you want to go forward in life, you have to face those challenges if you want to go anywhere.”

Forty-one years after leaving his island home, Trotman, who at one time held the book of Keveh Nicholls, and is also the agent for Sahin Civaci, has gone further than he had ever envisioned.

It's something he's reminded of every time he walks through the barns at the Toronto oval each racing season.

“I have earned the respect of people at Woodbine and I'm thankful for that. I'm able to go into any barn and I'm accepted, whether they wanted to ride Patrick or not. I have so much respect for the trainers, in that I'm able to have conversations with every one of them. The acceptance of being an agent is something I am grateful for. People can say I got lucky by getting one of the best riders at Woodbine the first time I was an agent, but I worked hard to get that point.”

Others certainly took notice.

“Leroy has always loved working in the racing industry,” said Owens. “He is truly dedicated to his job, from groom to assistant trainer and now in his role as agent to top rider Patrick Husbands. Leroy is a gentleman and it's been a pleasure working with him over the years. We have always considered him part of our family.”

“I know that Leroy always has my best interests at heart, as a rider and a person,” added Husbands. “He's worked hard to get where he is, and he has never taken any of it for granted.”

There isn't trace of conceit in Trotman's voice when he speaks of his accomplishments.

Rather, there is an unmistakable humbleness in his tone, underscored by a graciousness that comes with the contentment of a dream realized.

“Horse racing has given me so much. I came to this country as a boy leaving school at 15, with nothing in my pocket. I continued to work hard and put in the effort. My thought every day was that I wanted to be a good horseperson. People say that someone is a good groom, a good jockey or a good trainer. I wanted to be a good horseperson. That's the only title I have ever wanted. I cherish that. Now, I have so much because I have the horses and horse racing in my life. I have three kids and a wonderful family life. How could I not be happy?”

Soon, Trotman will be back working at Woodbine in preparation for the upcoming season, eager to soak up the camaraderie and atmosphere of the bustling backstretch.

The once conflicted teenager who had yearned for a better life, the one who prayed to escape the unhappy times he knew, now walks a placid path to the place that has become his second home.

To where he'll hear the familiar sound of the horses calling.

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Iron-deficiency anemia in horses is rare, but it does happen. Most horses get sufficient amounts of iron in their diet from hay, pasture, and commercial feeds. An average horse needs 400 to 500 mg of iron per 500 kg of body weight, reports Dr. Gulsah Kaya Karasu of AGG Equine Nutrition Consulting in EQUUS magazine. 

Horses may end up with anemia because of blood loss (causes may include an injury, cancer, or ulcers), reduced blood cell production, or blood cell destruction. 

Some infections, like equine infectious anemia, can lead to red blood cell destruction, as can a heavy worm burden, particularly large strongyles. Chronic kidney disease, cancer, and a few other disorders can prevent a horse from making adequate red blood cells.

An anemic horse will have pale mucous membranes and an increased heart rate, in addition to being sluggish. Adding additional iron to the affected horse's diet isn't recommended as excessive iron can lead to depression, diarrhea, and compromised immune function. It can also interfere with the body's ability to absorb other minerals and increase the risk of a horse becoming insulin resistant. 

Iron-related anemia is rare in horses, so a thorough investigation by a vet is recommended for diagnosis.

Read more at EQUUS. 

The post Is Your Steed Sleepy? Anemia May Be To Blame appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“It is a very solid catalogue with a lot of depth,” said Cormac Breathnach, Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations. “The January Sale catalogue doesn't always have major highlights like we would in November, but we do have strong offerings at the top, like Co Cola (Candy Ride {Arg}). She is the dam of Search Results (Flatter) and is in foal to Flatter, so she is carrying a full-sibling to that Grade I-winning filly. She is a real standout offering who fits a lot of programs. We have a lot of good race fillies who could retire as broodmares or who could go on and be a lot of fun in 2022, such as Hello Beautiful (Golden Lad). She has won eight stakes and she is either an attractive broodmare prospect or race filly. We have Inthemidstofbiz (Fed Biz), who won the GII TCA here at Keeneland. We are excited about what we have and the momentum from November carrying over.”

It was a strong Keeneland November Sale from top to bottom, but many people left that auction with unfulfilled orders, according to Breathnach.

“That sale finished before people fulfilled all of their orders,” he said. “We took supplemental entries to this sale on the back of the strength of November. The entries for November happen early. They happen before the September Sale. The market had not revealed how strong it was going to be at that point, so through the November Sale, a lot of people were interested in selling horses and participating from a buying angle. The sale in November was a record median and a really healthy market from top to bottom. It did not feel overheated, but was really strong in terms of supply and demand. That is giving us a lot of confidence going forward into January.”

At last year's pandemic-affected Keeneland January Sale, 998 horses grossed $46,482,600. The auction was highlighted by three dispersals and was topped by a member of the Paul Pompa dispersal, MGSW Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), who summoned $925,000 and is now a Grade I winner.

Travel restrictions will not impact this year's auction, though the COVID-19 pandemic has taken another upswing.

“The travel restrictions have basically gone away aside from fulfilling testing requirements,” Breathnach said. “People will make their own personal decisions, but if there is an advantage through COVID, it is the ability to bid online or over the phone. People have found a way to make sales work for them despite these difficulties.”

The Keeneland January Sale runs from Tuesday, Jan. 11 through Friday, Jan. 14 with each session starting at 10 a.m. Book 1 is Monday and Tuesday followed by a pair of Book 2 sessions.

The post Keeneland January Sale Kicks Off Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“We had several really, really nice mares and just feel very, very blessed. The ball just landed in our court,” Keogh said of the November Sale.

When asked if he feels the November momentum will carry into January, Keogh said, “It is a new year and why not? There were a lot of people in November who got outbid on foals, so I would say there are a lot of pinhookers who have money in their pocket for the right horse. It was a strong market, but it was selective. If you had the goods, you more than got paid for it.”

Keogh has a strong selection of broodmares and foals from top to bottom for the January sale, but his draft does have a clear standout in Co Cola (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 492). Grade III-placed on the track, the 11-year-old mare is the dam of GI Acorn S. winner and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Search Results (Flatter) and she is carrying a full-sibling to that talented filly. Her now-3-year-old colt Search Engine (Flatter) summoned $625,000 at OBS last April and she has a yearling colt by Nyquist. Co Cola RNA'd for $925,000 at the recent Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

“Obviously, Co Cola, the dam of Search Results, is a very, very important mare,” Keogh said. “She is carrying a full-sibling to Search Results. Her full-brother sold for $625,000 last year and Search Results herself was a session topper in Book 4 at Keeneland. Co Cola is a mare who just gets it done on the racetrack and gets it done in the ring. Her first foal is a Will Take Charge (Blue Steel) and he was fourth in the GIII Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream last month. Search Results had six starts last year and in four of them she ran 90+ Beyers. She is a quality race filly and very consistent. She is back in training with Chad Brown down at Payson and by all accounts, she is as good as she has ever been.”

Keogh also named Polyester (Tiz Wonderful) (Hip 850) when asked about his draft's standouts. The unraced 12-year-old mare is the dam of GIII Pimlico Special S. winner Harper's First Ride (Paynter), who has won four additional stakes. She sells in foal to reigning Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief).

“I am very excited about a mare called Polyester,” Keogh said. “She is the dam of Harper's First Ride, who won the Pimlico Special. She is also a mare who gets it done on the racetrack and in the sales ring. Harper's First Ride has won 12 of his 23 lifetime starts with earnings of over $699,000. He is a tough, hard-knocking racehorse. She is in foal to Authentic and mares in foal to him averaged $390,000 in November. She is a very, very good-looking mare from a strong, old American pedigree.”

The Grovendale consignment also offers a strong group of yearlings. Most of them are by hot young sires, such as City of Light, Mitole, Connect and Vino Rosso.

“We have a very nice City of Light. I'm pretty bullish on him,” Keogh said. “We have a bunch of solid foals all of the way through. The Vino Rosso is a very good foal, two nice Connects and a big, strong Mitole foal, who is very nice. I am excited overall about the whole draft. It is a pretty good group of horses.”

The Keeneland January Sale gets underway Tuesday, Jan. 11 and runs through Friday, Jan. 14.

CLARIFICATION: In a story in Saturday's TDN about the Ontario Mare Purchase program, we neglected to say that the program applies to the Keeneland January Sale, as well as the OBS Winter Mixed, and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. Ontario residents who purchase an in-foal broodmare are eligible for a rebate of 50% of the purchase price to a maximum of $25,000 CAD. In-foal mares must be purchased for a minimum purchase price of $10,000 USD, with no maximum. Click here for complete program eligibility requirements, and details.

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