Tag: People

The Preakness Art of Racing culminated in the announcement of Justin Johnson as the winner of the second-annual national art competition. Johnson's original illustration titled “The Face of Victory” was selected by a panel of judges from among the 207 submissions, each of which depicted the extraordinary elements of Thoroughbred horse racing and the Preakness Stakes.

The winning artwork was announced Tuesday at a ceremony in the Brown Center at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In attendance were Senior Advisor of Art & Culture for the City of Baltimore Tonya Miller, MICA dignitaries, Park Heights Renaissance representatives and 1/ST Racing leadership. Participating artists also attended the announcement and celebrated a tradition that, much like the Preakness, unites communities across Baltimore.

In its second year, the Preakness Art of Racing was launched on January 9th by 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club in partnership with MICA through a call for entries to artists nationwide. The submission deadline was March 10th, at which point the public was encouraged to visit at www.preakness.com/the-art-of-racing to cast a vote for their favorite work of art. The top 10 vote-getters were then judged by a panel that included elected officials, community leaders and art professionals to select the winner.

This years' 207 entries surpassed the 2022 inaugural year by more than 40%. The gallery of entries represented the work of artists – from Maryland as well as from 18 other states that included Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin – who were inspired by the beauty of Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track.

“This recognition leaves room for more opportunities to come my way, more job opportunities in this field, and more connections both personal and professional to establish and cultivate,” said Johnson. “Winning the competition brings me that much closer to achieving my professional goals where I can thrive in a career doing what I love and what brings me happiness.”

As the winner of the second-annual competition, Johnson receives a $4,000 stipend and two tickets to Preakness 148. In addition, his work will be reproduced on a curated collection of Preakness 148 merchandise that will be available for purchase online and onsite during Preakness weekend. Proceeds from the sale of merchandise will be used to support the activities of the Park Heights Renaissance as it pursues affordable housing for families and provides employment opportunities for the people of Park Heights.

“Last year's inaugural run demonstrated a huge interest among Maryland-based artists to depict their beloved Preakness Stakes,” said Audra Madison, Director of Marketing, Maryland Jockey Club. “In expanding the competition to a nationwide audience, we've recognized a similar enthusiasm of artists beyond our region to capture the beauty of Thoroughbred horse racing.”

The ongoing partnership between 1/ST and the Park Heights Renaissance also includes the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the George E. Mitchell Park Heights Community Fellowship Grant, both of which honor the extraordinary legacy of Mitchell himself and recognize individuals who share a similar commitment to their friends and neighbors.

For more information on the Preakness Art of Racing, please visit www.preakness.com/the-art-of-racing or follow @PreaknessStakes and #Preakness on social media.

The post ‘The Face Of Victory’ Voted Winner Of Preakness Art Of Racing Competition appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With 42 winners to his name at the recently-concluded Fair Grounds meet in New Orleans, La., Ron Faucheux took home the leading trainer title for a third straight year in 2023. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, Faucheux now plans to step away from training and launch a career as a jockey's agent for Jose Luis Rodriguez.

“Basically, the last couple of years, I was just breaking even doing what I was doing,” Faucheux told TDN. “I love training horses, but I wasn't getting the kind of day rate trainers in places like New York and Kentucky get and our expenses are pretty comparable to theirs. This was a lot of work and, in all honesty, over the last several years, I wasn't making any money doing it.”

With a day rate set at $75, Faucheux said he was unable to keep pace with the rising cost of doing business as a trainer. Other considerations included have more time for his family, as well as less stress.

“My kids are getting a little bit older and I can spend a little bit more time with them being a jock's agent,” Faucheux told TDN. “There is quite a bit of work that goes into it, but not nearly the amount of work that I was used to as a trainer. [Rodriguez is] a good rider and he finished sixth at the Fair Grounds, his first full meet ever in the U.S. This is a good opportunity to spend more time with my family, have a little more free time and a little less stress and try this out. I'll see how it works.”

Faucheux will represent Rodriguez at the upcoming Evangeline Downs meet.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Tired Of ‘Just Breaking Even’: Trainer Ron Faucheux Wins Fair Grounds Title Before Launching Jockey Agent Career appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita's 43-day Classic Meet, which began on Dec. 26, drew to a close on Sunday, with Juan Hernandez atop the jockey's division, Phil D'Amato bagging yet another training title and Tim and Mark Cohen's Rancho Temescal and Red Baron's Barn leading all owners.

For Hernandez, a 31-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, it was a dominant gate to wire performance, as he won four races on opening day and never slowed down, winning two on Sunday to give him 63 victories for the meet, more than double that of runner-up Flavien Prat's 31.

In the all-important stakes-won category, it was Hernandez leading Prat 13 to 11, helping him to top all riders by purse money-won with $4,672,374.

Hernandez won three stakes on opening day, the Grade 2 San Gabriel aboard the Leonard Powell-trained Dicey Mo Chara, the G1 La Brea with Bob Baffert's Fun To Dream, and the G1 American Oaks aboard D'Amato's Irish-bred Rhea Moon.

Other stakes highlights for Hernandez came on Jan. 7 aboard Peter Miller's Thirsty John in the California Cup Derby; the G3 Sham Stakes for Baffert on Jan. 8; the G2 San Pasqual for D'Amato Jan. 28 with Newgrange; the G2 San Vicente for Baffert with Havnameltdown Jan. 29; the G2 Santa Monica with Fun to Dream on Feb. 4; the G3 Palos Verdes for Baffert on Feb. 5; the G3 Desert Stormer aboard Mark Glatt's Dance to the Music March 25; the G3 American on April 2 with Peter Eurton's Exaulted and the Evening Jewel Stakes (by 15 ½ lengths) on Saturday aboard Doug O'Neill's Ceiling Crusher.

Among apprentice jockeys, Armando Aguilar did very well, winning 18 races, good for eighth in the overall standings.

D'Amato, who has become a dominant force on turf, in large-part with Irish-breds, enjoyed another tremendous meeting, winning 32 races, five better than Bob Baffert. D'Amato finished with 11 stakes wins, second to Baffert's 12.

A 57-year-old native of San Pedro, Calif., D'Amato earned his third consecutive Classic Meet (formerly Winter/Spring) title and his fourth overall at Santa Anita.

He too, got off to a fast start, winning the opening day American Oaks in combination with Hernandez with Rhea Moon. He came back on day two Dec. 30 to take the Eddie Logan with Classical Cat; the G3 Las Cienegas on Jan. 2 with English-bred Amy C; the G2 San Pasqual with Newgrange on Jan. 28; the G3 Thunder Road on Feb. 4 with Irish-bred Earls Rock; the G3 San Marcos Feb. 5 with Irish-bred Prince Abama; the Spring Fever Stakes with Alice Marble on Feb. 19; the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile with Irish-bred Gold Phoenix on March 4; the G3 San Simeon with English-bred Motorious on March 5; the Irish O'Brien with Alice Marble and the G3 Monrovia with Elm Drive on Saturday.

The Cohen family's Rancho Temescal and Red Baron's Barn won 13 races, five of them stakes, beginning with the opening day G2 San Gabriel with English-bred Dicey Mo Chara; the G3 Megahertz on Feb. 4 with Irish-bred Quattroelle; the G2 Buena Vista March 4 with Quattroelle; the G3 Desert Stormer with Dance to the Music on March 25 and finishing up on Sunday by winning the John Shear Stakes with First Peace.

Santa Anita's first-ever Hollywood Meet will open on Friday, April 21 and run through closing day, Sunday, June 18. Santa Anita will be open for simulcast wagering beginning at 10 a.m. this Thursday through Sunday with free parking and admission.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Juan Hernandez, Phil D’Amato Finish Atop Santa Anita’s Classic Meet Standings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There is a quote that adorns one of the walls on the first floor of Woodbine Racetrack, 14 words that never fail to make people stop and take pause.

“My connection with my horses is based on respect, unconditional love, kindness and patience.”

For longtime Thoroughbred groom Janeen Lalsingh, the quote, her own, is far more than words of wisdom. Rather, it is a genuine expression of her bond with the horses she tends to and for everyone that resides on the Woodbine backstretch.

Any photo of Lalsingh together with a horse captures, without fail, the unabashed joy and connection she feels in that moment.

“They are all individuals, and you treat them in that way. You never treat them all the same, other than being good to them. Some need a little more motivation, some need a little more attention, and some horses are all business.”

Born in Valsayn, a town found in the East-West Corridor in northern Trinidad and Tobago, Lalsingh, who has been around horses almost her entire life, began working as a groom at Woodbine in 2002.

Over the years, Lalsingh, whose family has been involved in horse racing for three generations in her homeland, has groomed in several barns.

This year, she is looking after five horses for a familiar face in multiple graded stakes winning conditioner Gail Cox. Lalsingh previously worked for Cox in 2020.

“I spent 11 years with Sam-Son, through [trainer] Malcolm Pierce and I worked for Gail the year after Malcolm retired. I groomed some very nice horses with Gail, including Count Again and Tio Magico, when he was two. I used to go visit Gail all the time when I was working for [retired trainer] Danny Vella, because she's also a friend. So, I know the horses.”

These days, familiarity with the horses comes through familial ties.

“This year, it's going to be new horses for me. So, it's going to be different than in previous years. I know some of the horses in Gail's barn. I know All Canadian because I groomed him as a 2-year-old. I also know Ready to Repeat and Dancin in Da'nile. I know some of the Sam-Son horses because I groomed their moms or their siblings. I know Gail has a few of those who were bred by Sam-Son. It's very strange going in there now and thinking, 'I groomed your mother.'”

Lalsingh has already made connections with the handful of horses under her care.

On this day, a trip to a local grocery store yielded a bountiful haul for Barn No. 38.

“The girls at the checkout, they know why I'm there. From the time I start putting apples and carrots on the conveyor belt, they know. They know all the things that I buy to spoil my horses with.”

And make no mistake, Lalsingh does spoil her horses.

Proudly.

“I look at my life in the barn as my gym. I get my physical workout and I also get a good mental health workout too. If you give to the animals, they give back to you. The horses, they understand you and react to how you treat them. I have fun at feed time because I get to see all the other horses in the barn. I get along with them all. I will give them a treat and interact with them. My five, they understand me, and I understand them. These horses that came in from their time in Florida with Gail, they love carrots. I'm making friends with them that way.”

Lalsingh has developed a fondness for working with and helping develop young Thoroughbreds.

This year, one in particular caught her eye the moment he walked into the shedrow.

“I look forward to the babies. There is a Mendelssohn colt out of the Malibu Moon mare Jademarie, who I am grooming. His name is Maestros Music. He looks like something, a real racehorse. His physique, his presence… he's very smart too. I love working with 2-year-olds because you are part of their development.”

Whether they win or lose, horses under Lalsingh's care all receive the same reception after the race is over.

Some, she believes, know when they've won.

“I think they know they've done something good. Maybe they are thinking that it is a game. In the morning, when you put two together, you will sometimes see that one is more competitive than the other. I had one particular filly, Unto the Hills, a few years ago. When she won, we'd have to take her to the test barn. There was one time, she thought she won – it was a blanket finish – but she finished fifth. Instead of going back home, she wanted to go to the test barn. I had to tell her we were going home, but in her mind, she was saying, 'But I won!'

“They know they have done something well because they pick up on your feelings, your emotions. I am totally exuberant. If it's a stakes race, your emotions are off the charts, but even if it's another race, I'm always excited and happy. If they don't win or aren't in the top four or five, I always give them some positive reinforcement. I will pat them and talk to them. My mind is focused 100 percent on them after the race too. I find my horses react to me through my tone of voice. There are sometimes that you have to give them a little talking to, but they know how you feel.”

With a need for more grooms on the Woodbine backstretch, Lalsingh believes anyone who has an affinity for animals should consider a career in horse racing. ​

“There is the excitement of the sport – there are highs and lows – but you really do it because of the love of the animal. There are long hours and there can be tough times, but these horses really draw you in.”

Lalsingh certainly knows.

To this day, she still has a difficult time wrapping her head around the fact she's been in the business for 21 years.

“I did grow up in the sport, but my time here in Canada and at Woodbine has gone by really fast. I feel like a grandmom because I have seen three generations of some horses.”

Now, Lalsingh is adding some new faces to her personal scrapbook.

She'll often share photos, plenty of them, on social media.

“People probably look at my Facebook pictures and think, 'What is wrong with this girl?' But I love these horses, every single one.”

Just like those 14 words on the wall say to those who pass by them each day.

The post ‘I Love These Horses, Every Single One’: Groom Lalsingh Gives Her String Everything They Need appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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