“Michelle and Najja both have a deep appreciation for the mission of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and they are widely admired throughout the Thoroughbred industry,” said Ramón Dominguez, the President of the NYRTC. “We are honored to have them as board members and we look forward to working with them.”

Borisenok has supported women's leadership throughout her career and operates Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization which aims to empower women, foster a sense of camaraderie and give back to the community.

Thompson joined the Chaplaincy in 2020 and as the head of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, he works to enhance the status of New York-breds and promote the economic impact that breeders and racing can have on the state.

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Foreman, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said racing is facing an “existential moment” at a time when industry stakeholders increasingly must make the case for the sport's so-called social license to exist in the face of intense pressure from anti-racing activists and a younger generation of Americans who hold the belief that animal-based entertainment is more cruel than cool.

“It's not about foal crop. It's not about field size. It's not about whether we have a core product,” Foreman said, ticking down the list of the common concerns that industry insiders often debate.

“The single biggest issue right now [is] should the federal government, and should our state legislatures, continue to support our business?” Foreman said.

Foreman then rephrased his rhetorical question more bluntly so there would be no misunderstanding: “Is it time to end horse racing in this country?”

Foreman certainly doesn't think so, and neither did the panelists who joined him at the podium.

But the group did try to offer pearls of wisdom as to how industry stakeholders might fight back when confronted with that question.

Julie Broadway | Horsephotos

Their answers largely centered on the sharing of strategies for getting across the industry's far-reaching scale and the potential ramifications of ceasing racing, and several speakers even articulated how some entities in the sport have effectively lobbied their respective states to secure financial incentives, bolster racing programs, and modernize facilities, like the currently underway rebuild of Belmont Park and the planned re-imagining of Pimlico Race Course.

Foreman pointed out that even though there is now federal oversight in the form of the Horseracing and Safety Act (HISA) Authority, racing in the United States remains primarily a state-sanctioned business, and how much of the industry operates under laws that were enacted for vastly different economic reasons decades ago than what we face now.

Every year at about this time when applying for next season's racing dates, Foreman said, track operators increasingly have to defend why their states should support our sport's way of doing business.

“The point is, what the state giveth, the state can taketh,” Foreman summed up.

And demonstrating that we are upholding that “social license” must take the form of deeds and not just words, Foreman said. He and the other panelists also concurred that the sport's narrative also must be backed up by accurate economic data, which helps to drive home points to legislators and regulators.

What we need to successfully convey, Foreman said, is “if you talk about the economics of this business; the value of horse racing to the economies, of our local communities, of our states, of our country…I think that we can overcome this very challenging environment that we are in.”

Julie Broadway is the president of the American Horse Council (AHC), a national organization whose work and data helps not only racing stakeholders, but everything equine-centric in the country, under a scope that ranges from broad national issues to smaller initiatives at the local government level.

“You cannot sit still and sit back and wait for people in [government] to figure out what goes on in our industry and what it's all about,” was Broadway's assessment of how to approach dealing with politicians who can help usher through changes via legislation.

Regardless of the level of government, Broadway said the approach is largely the same. Getting your message across means 1) educating decision-makers; 2) setting context and dispelling misinformation and inaccuracies about your position; 3) stating the positive and pointing out unintended and/or negative consequences, and 4) making the overall narrative relatable and personal.

Those points are all underpinned by being armed with the proper data, Broadway said.

Najja Thompson | Fasig-Tipton

Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, said that a lot of times when racing people go in to make their cases to legislators, they have to be aware that they'll be dealing with a lower-level staffer at first. “And they're not listening to me unless I have the data to implore them to get their representative to speak to me directly on why racing is important in New York,” he said.

But, Broadway added, racing industry stakeholders can't benefit from that data if they don't join in to help compile it.

Broadway gave the example of a recently undertaken AHC economic impact study that sought to include feedback from the racing industry. The data will eventually be used to underscore the importance of horse racing within America's larger equine population, and it will be available for anyone who wants to cite it in making their case for support from legislators.

Yet only four Thoroughbred tracks responded.

“This survey was out for more than six months,” Broadway explained. “I'm sad to say that the Thoroughbred racing industry had a really low response rate. I mean, we really had to beg for data.”

Broadway contrasted that with participation from the harness racing industry, “because they really stepped up. They are getting their own breakout report just on Standardbred racing [that will] cut across all states where Standardbred racing occurs.”

Lonny Powell, the chief executive officer of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association, said he was stunned to hear that support from Thoroughbred tracks was so low.

“That's amazing. That's tough. How are we going to tell our story if nobody's even trying?” Powell said.

“I'm always a track guy,” Powell continued, alluding to his years in track management prior to a career turn toward executive jobs with industry entities. “And I just don't get it. I don't get why you wouldn't want to tell the story.”

Tom Rooney, the president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, pointed out that being a reliable broker of data is important, but that you need to also skillfully be able to tell the story of those numbers in a narrative form to get your point across to non-racing listeners.

“Clearly, the data is about jobs. It's about farms. It's about these things that we're used to going away, and maybe having to change the way that we work,” Rooney said. “If you work in the horse racing industry, you're kind of the subculture of skills that's probably applicable [in] very few other places. So we live in our own world, and we wouldn't be here if we didn't think that world was a good and beautiful endeavor to belong to.”

Added Powell: “You've got to be able to tell somebody what the consequences are if your industry goes away.”

Lonny Powell | Serita Hult

Powell also pointed out that reams of data are great, but that time in front of legislators is limited, so racing stakeholders need to distill it into manageable, relatable chunks.

“You've got to know it. You've got to believe it. You've got to have confidence in it. And you really have to care about the industry you're talking about. Otherwise, it's just a study,” Powell said. “Make your story relatable to those that aren't in our industry.”

Several panel participants underscored that people in racing have to take the time to forge personal bonds with legislators so the sport's stakeholders can be viewed as trusted sources.

In other words, don't go seeking help from politicians for the first time only when “your back's against the wall,” Powell cautioned.

“Are you kidding me? You've got to develop relationships. That takes years,” Powell said.

Foreman stressed that the racing industry needs to hone (and often repeat) the message that the sport is an economic engine, and that the money it generates often gets reinvested back into the community in ways that aren't apparent to legislators.

“Here's something that very rarely gets talked about, but legislators love to hear this,” Foreman said. “Racing is a community. We take care of our people,” he continued, giving examples of how in his home state of Maryland, the horsemen's health system provides full health care for the people who work in racing.

“That is something that doesn't fall back on the local economy, that doesn't fall back on social services. It doesn't fall back on the state,” Foreman said. “It's the racing industry that supports that. We take care of the people who work with us, [and] that resonates with legislators. And that's why they're willing to support the industry, because they understand the local impact that it has.”

To get that story across to political decision-makers, Foreman said, “we combined the economic impact with the social license aspects of it, and that's the takeaway.”

Powell, however, had a different message to impart, speaking directly to RTIP students. He prefaced his comments by letting the RTIP majors know that he is a graduate of that program who was attending his 41st edition of the annual symposium, and that he understood how some of the presentations over the past two days that focused primarily on industry problems might be giving students second thoughts about pursuing a career in the sport.

“Don't change your major,” Powell implored them, his voice at times cracking with emotion. “That's exactly why you're needed in leadership. That's exactly why you're needed in this business. Because we need people that believe you can make progress versus 'ride it all out.'”

“It's difficult. It's changing,” Powell said of horse racing. “But you can't give up.”

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Entries for the sale will close on May 30, and the catalogue will be released on May 31.

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Wanamaker's to give buyers and sellers the opportunity to market and purchase New York-bred horses of racing age ahead of the summer racing season in New York,” NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson said. “Following last year's sale, we received an overwhelming amount of good feedback. Looking to improve on the format to the utmost benefit of buyers and sellers, our new sale date on Thursday, June 8 will allow purchasers the opportunity to take the utmost advantage of owning a New York-bred with our racing program and awards with the opportunity to compete during the remainder of the Spring/Summer meet at Belmont Park and the entire Saratoga Race Course season.”

Prospective buyers may browse the website to view pedigrees, pictures, and videos of each hip offered. In-person inspections
may be scheduled by contacting sellers with the information provided in the catalogue. The entry fee for the auction will be $300 and commissions will be 5% on sales and zero on RNAs. To enter a horse, go to the Wanamaker's website.

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The 2022 New York-bred divisional champions and New York-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8 at Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.

New York riding legend and NYRA TV personality Richard Migliore will again host the Awards Dinner. Tickets are available – $150 for NYTB members and $175 for non-members – for purchase at www.nytbreeders.org/events or by calling the NYTB Office at (518) 587-0777.

Also, to be honored at the Awards Dinner with 2022 awards will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Steeplechaser, Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

A list of the 2022 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows.

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Acoustic Ave, Andiamo a Firenze, Arctic Arrogance, Vacation Dance.

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Gambling Girl, Les Bon Temps, Stonewall Star, You're My Girl.

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Barese, Rotknee, Un Ojo, Run Curtis Run.

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Fingal's Cave, Spendarella, Sterling Silver, Venti Valentine.

Champion Older Dirt Male: Americanrevolution, Bankit, Dr. Blute, Wudda U Think Now.

Champion Older Dirt Female: Bank Sting, Betsy Blue, Kept Waiting, Make Mischief.

Champion Turf Male: City Man, Dancing Buck, Red Knight, Somelikeithotbrown.

Champion Turf Female: Dream Central, Robin Sparkles, Runaway Rumour, Spendarella.

Champion Male Sprinter: Dancing Buck, My Boy Tate, Thin White Duke, Wudda U Think Now.

Champion Female Sprinter: Bank Sting, Betsy Blue, Robin Sparkles, Sterling Silver

The post NYTB Announces NY-Bred Championship Nominations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding and racing and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders.

Attracting donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, the auction has included McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Darley, WinStar Farm, Darby Dan Farm, and Gainesway Farm.

“The benefit of our annual stallion season auction is that it allows participants to find great value on stallions from leading farms in New York, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and elsewhere while helping our mission to protect and enhance the incentives and awards that have made the New York-bred program the strongest regional breeding program in the country,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson.

New York-bred program stakeholders receive more than $60 million distributed in purse money, incentives, and awards for New York-breds who compete in more than 600 New York-bred races run annually on the New York Racing Association circuit and Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

Additionally, there are specific enhanced programs targeted for New York-Sired New York-breds, including the $2.3 million 10-race New York Stallion Stakes Series and the New York-sired owner's bonus programs on the New York Racing Association circuit.

Donations of stallion seasons will be accepted until the beginning of the auction. Please visit to view the current list of stallions in the auction and contact NYTB directly at 518.587.0777 or info@nytbreeders.org to donate a season.

All bids will be subject to the rules and conditions of the auction and each season's conditions will be posted. All participants must be registered in advance, click here.

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Among the nominees are GII Remsen S. winner Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) (2-Year-Old Male), multiple stakes winner Laobanonaprayer (Laoban) (2-Year-Old Filly); and GI Travers S. and GI Belmont S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution) (3-Year-Old Male).

For a complete list of nominees, click here.

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Last November I summarized proposals arising from discussions over a year ago among a wide spectrum of program stakeholders about ways to attract new broodmares into New York's program. A shrinking foal crop and the coming retirement of a generation of our most prolific and successful breeders (responsible for as much as 20 percent of our state foal crop annually) make it essential to restock our mare population. The stark reality is that the New York Racing Association's commitment (per the franchise agreement) to run 600 state-bred races annually will no longer be binding if the program cannot sustain a New York-bred population sufficient to fill the races. Breeders and stallion owners alike agreed that it is essential to remove barriers that are currently keeping new owners from bringing mares into the state.

The gaming commission and executive chamber received the proposal in late 2019. We have received notice the executive chamber (regulatory review unit) approved the publication of the draft rule change in the Department of State Register Aug. 26, initiating a period of public comment lasting 60 days when breeders and other interested parties can respond in writing to the proposed rule.

Click here to read the proposed rule.

The public comment period for this proposed rule will run through Oct. 26. After the public comment period runs, the Fund will be in a position to adopt the proposed rule. If there are public comments received before Oct. 26, the Fund board will need to be apprised, evaluate those public comments, and decide whether to accept any of them. If the Fund board wishes to accept a public comment that would result in a modification of the proposal, it may then issue a Notice of Revised Rule-making, which would need to again be approved by the Regulatory Review Unit, be published as a Revised Rule Making in the State Register, and be subject to a further public comment period.

As I outlined last year, the most important change is to open “resident mare” status to “Mares from Public Auction” purchased for at least $50,000 (or an amount to be determined annually by the Fund). After dropping a New York-bred foal, such a mare would not (as currently) be obliged to breed back to a New York sire. Instead, she could go to an out-of-state stallion, but only so long as she returns to New York after that breeding and maintains “Resident Mare” status (according to existing rules) until the birth of that second foal.

This is a rule that many of our competing neighboring breeding states currently follow. In fact, they permit mares to be purchased and brought in their states with no minimum purchase price threshold or floor, such as Pennsylvania and Ontario.

Another change aims to reduce the shipping burden on owners of resident mares who currently raise foals in Kentucky. A resident mare going out of state to be bred would be allowed to stay away for 120 days (rather than 90 days) so her new foal can be weaned before she returns to New York. Finally, the 90-day period that a non-resident mare must currently stay in New York after foaling would begin “on arrival” rather than “after foaling.”

It is important to point out that stallion owners involved in our discussions have endorsed the kinds of measures outlined above, agreeing that attracting new mares or breeders will benefit the program as a whole. At the same time, I've been successful at brokering an agreement between NYRA and the Fund to further support our stallion population, creating a $5,000 owners' bonus (by purse money) for New York-sired winners in various maiden and allowance conditions (both state-bred and open) with a potential value of more than $650,000 annually. This commitment has been signed by both NYRA and the Fund and will be instituted a year after the rule change officially takes place.

None of this, however, means that any rule change has been put in place; this officially kicks off an elaborately choreographed State-controlled process of review, comment, and possible revision before the proposed rule change is adopted or rejected.

I urge you to make your views known during the public comment period. The outcome of this process will be a transparent, open format, in the hands of the entire program and all constituents.   To comment by October 26th you must send in writing to tegan@nybreds.com or by mail:

Tracy Egan, Executive Director
New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund
One Broadway Center, 1st Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305

The timeline is such that if there are no comments requiring a change to the rule, the Fund board could submit its approval to the State for finalization before the November sales. The State will then incorporate the new rules which could take weeks administratively. However, it is important to note the rule as written will apply to all mares bought from public auction 2019 forward who've followed the new protocols.

Lastly, New York has reopened indoor businesses such as bowling alleys, museums, and gyms. Schools are reopening. If they can all open successfully, hopefully the casinos may get their chance to open sooner than a 2021 timeline. NYRA is functioning in this reduced environment and surviving. Yes, it's for reduced days and purses. Rest assured, NYTB and NYTHA are working to ensure there will be a winter meet at Aqueduct under these same principles. You can count on that happening.

The post New York Thoroughbred Breeders Propose Plan To Expand ‘Resident Mare’ Eligibility, New York-Sired Incentives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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