penn national | Horse Racing Free Tips

PA Raids That Yielded ‘Significant Contraband’ Now Termed as ‘Nothing of Substance’

One month after initially stating at a Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission (PHRC) meeting that May backstretch raids at Parx yielded a “significant amount of contraband” and “items that have no business on the backside,” Tom Chuckas, the director of Thoroughbred horse racing for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, gave a Tuesday update that now describes the yield from those searches in markedly less sensationalistic terms.

“In the last months, enforcement action was taken both at Penn National and at Parx,” Chuckas told commissioners at the June 29 PHRC meeting during his monthly briefing. “That enforcement action consisted of…vehicle searches, barn searches, vet trailer searches. In addition, we did out-of-competition testing both at Penn National and at Parx, and the preliminary results from these investigative enforcement actions is very, very minor infractions. Nothing of substance.”

Yet according to a June 2 ruling posted on the PHRC website, the May 21 raid did allegedly turn up “21 loaded hypodermic needles and hypodermic syringes” in the locked tack room of Parx trainer Richard Vega. TDN first reported that development on June 2.

Vega is currently appealing a summary suspension issued for that infraction by Parx stewards. He was denied a request for a stay that would have allowed him to keep training until his hearing date, and has not started a horse since May 19.

Chuckas–who gave his entire monthly Thoroughbred investigatory report in just 50 seconds–said nothing about Vega's aspect of the case. But he did add that the commission's enforcement branch will have a more active racetrack presence now that pandemic protocols have eased.

“We will continue to conduct enforcement actions moving forward now that COVID's over and most of our staff's been vaccinated,” Chuckas said.

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Jockey Edwin Gonzalez Captures 1,500th Career Win at Gulfstream Park

Edwin Gonzalez notched career win No. 1,500 Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla, where the veteran is enjoying considerable success while competing in his first Spring/Summer Meet.

The 29-year-old journeyman guided Surprise Factor to victory in Race 4 on Saturday's program at Gulfstream to reach the career milestone, which includes 443 wins in his native Puerto Rico.

“I'm very emotional. I cried when I passed the wire,” Gonzalez said. “It's something a lot of jockeys don't do. I came to this country by myself and have been working all these years with my family to get opportunities with trainers and owners. It's amazing. I'll keep working hard.”

Gonzalez, who had ridden the winner of Race 3 to set up his career-milestone ride in Race 4, currently ranks third in the jockey standings for the Spring/Summer Meet with 53 victories, four behind Edgard Zayas (57) and one behind Emisael Jaramillo (54) through Race 4.

Gonzalez, who ventured to the U.S. in 2013, had dominated at Penn National the past two years while winning at a 30 percent rate before venturing to Gulfstream Park, where agent Kevin Meyocks is booking his mounts.

“It was time to go. It was the right thing and the right time,” said Gonzalez, who rode five winners on the May 13 program.

Gonzalez, who has settled in Miami Gardens with his wife, Karina, and their three children, is planning on riding year-round at Gulfstream.

The post Jockey Edwin Gonzalez Captures 1,500th Career Win at Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Penn National Implements HeadCheck Jockey Health Program

Penn National Race Course announced a new partnership with software company HeadCheck Health, Inc. that will equip all staff with a customized system for optimizing concussion and injury management for jockeys within and between racetracks.

HeadCheck is a secure HIPAA compliant system that aims to improve track management by allowing clear and immediate communication of suspected injuries and jockey health status. This program will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks and all jockeys receive appropriate care before returning to ride.

Since 2019, HeadCheck–covered in the TDN this March–has worked with various industry stakeholders, customizing its platform to address numerous jockey health issues. Though the program took a backseat to challenges related to COVID-19, HeadCheck has been continuing to adapt the system to be ready for expansion.

“The implementation of the HeadCheck program by racetracks in the region is an important step toward protecting the health of jockeys,” said Aaron Gryder, Vice President, Industry Relations, 1/ST RACING. “As a retired jockey myself, I see the HeadCheck program as a key solution for elevating the standard of care by creating consistent medical and head-health monitoring for our athletes.”

“We are proud to be joining this initiative and committed to the health and safety of our jockeys,” added Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operations at Penn National Race Course.

The post Penn National Implements HeadCheck Jockey Health Program appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Penn National Joins HeadCheck Jockey Health System, Moving Toward Uniform Mid-Atlantic Protocols

Penn National Race Course announced a new partnership with software company HeadCheck Health, Inc. ('HeadCheck') that will equip all staff with a customized system for optimizing concussion and injury management for jockeys within and between racetracks.

Horse racing is a sport that comes with an inherent risk for jockeys. The industry also faces challenges in implementing concussion and injury protocols. There are different resources available at each track, no national overseeing body to mandate requirements, independent state commissions and rules, and a transitory workforce of jockeys.

Since 2019, HeadCheck has worked with various industry stakeholders, customizing the platform to solve many of these issues. Though the program took a backseat to challenges related to COVID-19, it's been quietly continuing to adapt the system to be ready for expansion.

The journey so far has been marked by impressive collaboration and hard work between Dr. Kelly Ryan and the sports medicine team at MedStar Health, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Maryland Jockey Club, and Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Benefit Board.

HeadCheck is a secure HIPAA compliant system that will improve track management by allowing clear and immediate communication of suspected injuries and jockey health status. This program will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks and all jockeys receive appropriate care before returning to ride.

“We are proud to be joining this initiative and committed to the health and safety of our jockeys,” said Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operations at Penn National Race Course.

HeadCheck's goals align with the industry's: provide a comprehensive system that will save time, reduce the risk of non-compliance to concussion and injury protocols, and improve outcomes for injured riders.

To learn more, visit headcheckhealth.com or contact Eric VanderHelm directly at evanderhelm@headcheckhealth.com or (604) 373-0035.

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