Tag: People

Martin Haiber, who grew up in the racing industry and was licensed as jockey in 1987, is the 2022 Backstretch Worker of the Year for Laurel Park given his contributions to the Rodney Jenkins barn for the past seven years.

Haiber, soon to be 61 years old, works as a hot walker for Jenkins. But his father owned racehorses before he was born, and Haiber grew up spending time around horses. He received his first Maryland Racing Commission license in 1980 and worked with his father on a breeding farm and at Marlboro racetrack, which for a period of time also served as a training center.

“I've been around horses my whole life,” Haiber said.

Haiber said he always wanted to be a jockey, and that dream came true in 1987. He rode through 1994, and in 1988 won 32 races primarily at Delaware Park and Charles Town. He said a highlight was winning three races and finishing second in four mounts at Marlboro, which at that time only had one or two racing days a year.

“It's what I always wanted to be—a jockey,” said Haiber, who was based at the Bowie Training Center for about 15 years working for his father, Louis Capuano and others. He then went to Laurel to work for Kenny Tucker, and Eveline Kjelstrup, assistant to Jenkins, asked him if he would walk some horses for the Jenkins barn. Haiber did so willingly.

“What's important to me is just being around horses,” said Haiber, who has lived in Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Landover and Chesapeake Beach in Maryland. “If I miss a few days I don't feel right. It's in my blood. I'd like to say 'thank you' to Eveline and Mr. Jenkins.”

The post ‘It’s In My Blood’: 61-Year-Old Martin Haiber Named Laurel’s Backstretch Worker Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fine art auction house Hindman will present the Collection of Josephine Abercrombie, Pin Oak Stud, Versailles, Ky., as the anchor of its Feb. 8 Collected Home auction. A lifelong horsewoman, philanthropist and businesswoman and founder of the Lexington School in Lexington, Ky., Abercrombie also developed a striking collection of furniture and decorative arts.

“While Abercrombie is known for her love of horse racing and entrepreneurial spirit, she also built a stunning collection of decorative arts, furniture, and art,” commented Jennifer Howe, Hindman Senior Specialist of Early 20th Century Design. “This sale has a strong selection of equestrian-themed property as well as elegant furnishings from Abercrombie's lifetime of collecting.”

Abercrombie (1926-2022) was the only child of Texas oilman and Cameron Iron Works founder J.S. Abercrombie and Lillie Frank Abercrombie. Her love for riding began during her childhood in Texas when she began showing American Saddle Horses as a young girl. Abercrombie's success as a Saddlebred competitor and her passion for the sport led her to establish the Thoroughbred breeding farm Pin Oak Stud in Versailles, Ky., in 1952. Over the past four decades Pin Oak Stud, under Abercrombie's leadership, has embodied excellence in Thoroughbred breeding and racing. Additionally, Josephine was an avid supporter of her Texas and Kentucky communities, providing generous philanthropic support to educational institutions and civic projects.

Highlights from the collection (presented across Lots 1 – 159) include fine Georgian furniture, Chinese Export porcelain, English and American silver flatware and serving pieces, including a beautiful flatware service by Porter Blanchard, rugs, and mirrors, to name a few. For those passionate about racing, ideal lots to explore include an American School, 20th century painting, Portrait of Three Horses (Lot 1; estimate: $500-700); John Rattenbury Skeaping's bronze sculpture Horse and Dog (Lot 3; estimate: $2,000- 4,000); and an American Silver Presentation Stein of Houston Horse Show Association Interest (Lot 4; estimate: $700 – 900).

Bidding for the Feb. 8 auction will begin at 10am CT, and will be available online through Hindman's Digital Bid Room. The full auction can be viewed online here.

About Hindman

Hindman is a leading fine art auction house connecting cities nationwide to the global art market. With offices and salerooms throughout the country, Hindman conducts over 140 auctions annually in all major fine art and luxury collecting categories, while offering buyers and sellers an exceptional experience across multiple selling channels and price points.

Hindman's team of experts is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the industry. Driven by this client-first approach, Hindman provides collectors, fiduciaries, and institutions with a comprehensive suite of services including auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory.

Hindman was formed through the merger of two premier auction houses, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (est. 1982) and Cowan's Auctions (est. 1995). Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2022, Hindman has established itself as a market leader by providing outstanding service and achieving record results. Hindman is headquartered in Chicago with 15 additional locations serving clients coast to coast. With industry-leading technology, over $100 million in annual sales, and a team of 175 experienced professionals, Hindman is well positioned to handle a range of auction and appraisal projects.

The post Josephine Abercrombie Collection Will Be Auctioned On Feb. 8 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sidelined for the past two winters due to COVID concerns, Santa Anita's 53rd annual Charity Basketball Game versus Holy Angels Middle School will return to La Salle High School in Pasadena Thursday, Feb. 16, with game time set at 7 p.m. (PT).

A distinguished group of Hall of Fame jockeys will be on-hand beginning at 6:30 p.m. to sign posters and other memorabilia in the La Salle gym. Retired legends Laffit Pincay Jr. and Gary Stevens will be available as will active Hall of Famers Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Mike Smith, and John Velazquez.

Admission is $5 with proceeds going to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund and Holy Angels Athletics.

Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in advance via Jockey.givesmart.com. Jockey game T-shirts may also be purchased in advance via this link up until Feb. 8 at 3 p.m.

The post Santa Anita Jockeys To Renew Annual Basketball Rivalry With Holy Angels Middle School appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Samy Camacho doesn't want to look too far ahead. For now, his sights are set on staying strong and healthy and winning the Tampa Bay Downs jockeys title for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

But with a substantial lead from Pablo Morales in the standings approaching the midway point of the meet (51-32 through Sunday's action), the 34-year-old Venezuelan is already thinking about adding more hardware to his trophy case in the summer.

“I went to Monmouth Park for the first time last year and finished (tied for) third, but I didn't win for anybody from New Jersey,” Camacho said. “The Jersey-bred program is very important up there, so I'm trying to open my lead here as much as I can because Gulfstream starts their (spring-summer meet) in April, and I'd like to try to win a title there this year.

“But if (Morales) gets closer, I'll stay here and go to Monmouth, because I don't want to let him beat me.”

Camacho failed to win Sunday, a day after riding three winners and finishing third in both stakes races: on Marketsegmentation for trainer Chad Brown in the Endeavour (G3) and on Golden Alchemist for Brown in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3).

Under the direction of his agent, Mike Moran, Camacho has ridden the most horses at the meet – 218 – and his fitness and ability, along with Moran's knack for finding quality mounts, has him well ahead of the rest of the Oldsmar colony with a 23.4 win percentage.

“I keep learning something new every day, and I think that is why I'm doing better and winning more races,” Camacho said.

Morales, meanwhile, continues to close in on 2,500 career victories, moving within four Sunday by winning two races on the turf. He captured the fourth race aboard Original for owner Eric Fein and trainer John P. Terranova II and added the ninth and final race on Slime Queen, a 6-year-old mare owned by Charles D. Nielson and trained by Jon Arnett.

The post Camacho Might Be Hard To Catch In Tampa Bay Jockeys’ Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post