New Vocations to Host 18th Annual Thoroughbred Show

New Vocations, the country's oldest and largest racehorse adoption program, will host the 18th Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Sept. 3-5. The event will be held at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, S.C. Iris Smith Stable, LLC will be the title sponsor.

One of the largest fundraisers for New Vocations, the annual show was held virtually last year due to COVID-19. As a way of showcasing the versatility of Thoroughbred athletes, classes will include hunter, jumper, combined test, pleasure, in-hand, dressage, and western. An exhibitor's party will take place on the Friday of the event and a live concert will be held Saturday.

“We are excited to welcome Thoroughbreds and their exhibitors back to compete and connect with others who share the same love and passion for the breed,” said Anna Ford, program director for New Vocations. “The support we have received for this year's show has been simply amazing. So many Thoroughbred owners, breeders, trainers, industry partners, and fans have become sponsors of the event.”

Entries are open until Aug. 27 to any Thoroughbred registered with The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). For sponsorship information or any other questions, please visit newvocations.org/event_detail/24.

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Robinson, Defendant In Federal Doping Indictment, Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison

Scott Robinson, one of the defendants in the federal case that rocked horse racing in March 2020, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. The Thoroughbred Daily News reported that U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken handed down the sentence on Tuesday after Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of drug adulteration and misbranding conspiracy in September 2020.

Robinson, together with pharmacist Scott Mangini, was accused of operating consumer-facing websites such as HorsePreRace, peddling products which purported to be blood builders and pain blockers which were allegedly untestable, as well as discounted versions of prescription drugs despite not being an FDA-approved manufacturer. Robinson is neither a veterinarian nor a pharmacist.

Click here to read the Paulick Report's investigation of HorsePreRace from 2016.

A pre-sentencing report filed by federal prosecutors ahead of Oetken's ruling revealed even more disturbing details about the conditions in which those products were made. A state pharmacy board inspection report dated February 2016 which was published by the Paulick Report had picked up on unsanitary conditions at co-conspirator Scott Mangini's facility in Florida: the Florida Department of Health Records noted that there was no working sink in the pharmacy for hand washing, and employees were instead using a ten-gallon bucket. The department noted so much dust on the counters where prescriptions were made that an investigator was able to trace letters in the dirt with an alcohol swab — a particular problem since some products were injectables. Ingredients were mislabeled.

Click here to read more about Mangini's facility from this 2016 investigative feature by the Paulick Report.

Even before that inspection however, the report cited communications from Robinson to Mangini indicating he knew something could be wrong with the products he was selling. In spring 2015, Robinson began asking Mangini whether there had been changes to manufacturing processes.

“R u making stuff different? I have a lot of stuff that doesn't look same and has stuff floating in it. Blood building peptide has black particles,” one message to Mangini read.

“[Employee] has been complaining of bugs coming out of boxes u send. I told him he was crazy until I found one floating in bottle today when labeling,” read another, also to Mangini.

The Board of Pharmacy conducted its inspection in December 2015, but Robinson was dismissive of any danger resulting from the inspection, writing to Mangini, “And board of pharmacy worries about u? They got bigger problems! Lol.”

(Mangini, who has been charged with two counts of drug adulteration and misbranding, has entered a not guilty plea and his case is ongoing.)

Between December 2015 and January 2016, Robinson fielded complaints from trainers who had injected Pentosan into their horses, only to see the horses become severely depressed and unable to move. The horses' veterinarian attributed the reactions to a bad batch. The pre-sentencing report indicated Robinson “was dismissive of these complaints.”

When federal agents executed search warrants on premises used by Robinson in September 2019, prosecutors say he became incensed and “attempted to extort the federal agents involved in the seizure by threatening to release a letter to certain members of the racehorse industry informing them of of the existence and scope of the FBI's investigation if the FBI did not immediately return his electronic devices the same day they were seized. After being informed his threat was itself a crime, Robinson retracted his threat hours later.”

After he became aware the FBI was investigating him, prosecutors say Robinson continued distributing adulterated and misbranded drugs, generating “millions of dollars in revenue.”

Prosecutors had requested the maximum available sentence of five years in prison, while Robinson's defense team, pointing out his lack of prior criminal convictions, suggested he serve no time. Defense attorneys painted a picture of a man who had risen to business success from near-homelessness and who battled depression and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to injuries sustained in the United States Navy. Letters from friends and family framed Robinson as a caring person who gave liberally to charity and financially supported family members.

Although Robinson had no criminal history, prosecutors did note that he was court martialed in 1998 and dishonorably discharged from the Navy after he admitted to reselling anabolic steroids to other enlisted members of the Navy.

One character reference letter in support of Robinson's defense came from New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, where executive director Dot Morgan wrote that Robinson “donated a massive amount of his compounded omeprazole ulcer treatment” to the program in 2010 and 2011. In 2014, HorsePreRace and HorseGold (of which Robinson was president) were the recipients of warning letters from the Food and Drug Administration warning them to stop marketing omeprazole and other products designed to act as prescription drugs because they were not approved as mass manufacturers of drugs.

Another letter, from Robinson's psychiatrist, highlighted the defendant's feelings for horses.

“From my three years of work with Mr. Robinson, I have become aware of his great knowledge of and love for racehorses,” wrote Dr. Ronald E. DeMao. “Horses and horse racing have literally “been his life.” It is inconceivable to me that he would ever do anything to intentionally harm a horse. In fact, he has developed products to aid in the physical health and rehabilitation of horses. I have heard him speak in very pejorative terms about others who 'dope' or harshly train racehorses.”

Robinson is required to surrender himself on Sept. 7, 2021 to begin his sentence. He will have another three years of supervised release after serving his time.

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AAEP Honors Palmer, Scollay and New Vocations

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has presented Scott Palmer, VMD, its 2020 Sage Kester “Beyond the Call” Award. The award is named in honor of its first recipient, the late Wayne O. “Sage” Kester, DVM, and recognizes a current or former AAEP member who has made significant and long-lasting contributions to equine veterinary medicine and the community. A past president of the AAEP, Palmer worked in clinical practice as a staff surgeon and hospital director of the New Jersey Equine Clinic for 38 years. He was appointed equine medical director for the New York State Gaming Commission in 2014 and his safety reforms recommendation implemented at the state’s racetracks are credited with elevating New York racing to among the safest in the country and have served as a model for racing stakeholders in other regions.

Palmer’s contributions to racehorse safety also include current service on the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium Scientific Advisory Committee and on the Association of Racing Commissioners International Drug Testing Standards & Practices Committee and Equine Welfare & Veterinarians Committee.

“As a leader, Dr. Palmer comes to any challenge fully prepared, listens attentively to all opinions, is always willing to adjust his own position if indicated, and clearly and respectfully articulates his opinions,” said nominator Dr. Harry Werner. “These leadership qualities are very much respected by those who work with him.”

During the AAEP’s 2020 Annual Convention & Trade Show, held virtually Dec. 9, the group also honored Mary Scollay, DVM with its Distinguished Service Award. Scollay, now in her fourth term on the AAEP’s Racing Committee, is executive director and COO of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. She also spent 11 years as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s first equine medical director and 13 years as senior association veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park in south Florida. While in Florida, she conceptualized and developed the forerunner to The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database, to which she has served as a veterinary consultant since its launch in 2008.

“With her unwavering philosophy that the health and welfare of the horse remains paramount above all else, Dr. Scollay has provided many years of outstanding service to the veterinary profession, steadfast dedication to the equine industry, and deep commitment to the mission of the AAEP,” said nominator Dr. Patricia Marquis.

The AAEP honored New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, the largest racehorse adoption charity in the United States, with the 2020 Lavin Cup, recognizing a non-veterinary organization or individual that has distinguished itself through service to improve the welfare of horses.

Founded in 1992, New Vocations’ mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with nearly 500 retirees served by the program each year. With facilities in five states–Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Louisiana–New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options.

“New Vocations has a longstanding commitment to the health and welfare of the equine athletes that deserve help in transitioning to a healthy and productive second career,” said co-nominators Dr. Jeff Berk and Dr. Wesley Sutter. “In every sense, they have partnered with us, the equine veterinarians who seek the same goals for our patients.”

During its annual convention and trade show, the AAEP also installed Scott Hay, DVM, president and managing shareholder of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based racetrack practice Teigland, Franklin and Brokken DVMs, as president.

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New Vocations Launches 11th Annual Breeders’ Cup Pledge To Support Aftercare

New Vocations has officially launched its annual Breeders' Cup Pledge. The program is seeking owners and trainers of Breeders' Cup contenders to pledge a percentage of their Championship earnings to support its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses. This will be the 11th year for the fundraiser, which has raised over $650,000 to date.

“The need for our services continues to grow each year,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director. “This year, in particular, has been very challenging due to the obstacles presented by COVID-19. Over the last decade, we have grown this Pledge into an extremely important fundraiser and we had our most successful year yet in 2019, raising over $130,000. We hope to have another record-breaking year in 2020 and are so grateful for the generous contributions of our donors who have continued to support and value our program. The Pledge is a great way for owners and trainers to give back and support New Vocations' aftercare efforts.”

Last year, over 50 Championship contenders had owners and/or trainers who pledged a percentage of their Breeders' Cup earnings. Of those, Vino Rosso, British Idiom, Sharing, Covfefe, Uni and Bricks And Mortar were victorious in their Championship races.

This year, New Vocations hopes to grow the list of pledgers to ensure yet another successful event and help raise the much-needed funding for daily operations that ultimately help retired racehorses transition into new homes and careers.

New Vocations will continue to seek pledges from owners and trainers until Nov. 5. All Pledge information can be found here or by contacting anna@horseadoption.com or andrea@horseadoption.com.

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