Tag: People

The Kentucky Equine Education Project's (KEEP) Board of Directors announced that long-time consultant Will Glasscock will be promoted to executive director beginning Jan. 1, 2023. This follows the announcement by Elisabeth Jensen in September that she would be stepping down from her leadership role in the organization.

Glasscock began working as a consultant for KEEP in 2017. Since then, he has worked with many different facets of the organization and its mission, including KEEP's advocacy in Frankfort and Washington, the grassroots membership, strategic planning, and the KEEP Foundation. Most recently, Glasscock launched KEEP's Legislative Advocacy Committee, an important element in connecting individuals in the equine industry with our legislators in Frankfort and providing education and information on relevant policy.

Additionally, the board announced that Jensen will remain close to the organization and serve as a consultant with both the KEEP Alliance and the KEEP Foundation. In that role, Jensen will assist KEEP in managing board relations, industry stakeholders, and long-term strategic planning.

Case Clay, chairman of KEEP's Board of Directors, commented: “Will's significant knowledge of the legislative process and the needs of our industry, as well as his many years with KEEP, will allow for a smooth transition and immediate success in his new role.”

Glasscock commented on the announcement and the work ahead: “I am honored to have been asked to take on this position for an organization that is so vital to Kentucky and to Kentucky's horse industry. Thanks to Elisabeth Jensen's leadership for the past five years, KEEP is stronger than ever and I look forward to building on the organization's success. I also look forward to continuing to work with Elisabeth in her new role and with the KEEP Board of Directors and its leadership.”

Glasscock continued: “Kentucky's horse industry is once again leading the nation and its growth continues on a positive trajectory. It is imperative that we continue working to sustain Kentucky's success. Additionally, we will maintain KEEP's focus on the labor shortages facing the industry, as well as the importance of educating and informing Kentuckians about the true impact that the industry has on the Commonwealth's economy.”

Glasscock grew up in Kentucky and attended the College of Charleston and the George Washington University. Glasscock worked in Washington, D.C. for nearly nine years. There, he worked for two members of Congress and as director of government relations for a national trade association. Prior to returning to Kentucky in 2014, Glasscock and his wife Amy took a mid-career volunteer opportunity and spent two years serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in rural East Java, Indonesia.

Glasscock volunteers locally coaching youth sports and has served on the boards of the International Book Project, the Kentucky Peace Corps Association, the Clark County Community Foundation, and First Christian Church, Winchester, KY. Glasscock and his wife have a daughter and reside in Lexington.

About KEEP

The Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky's equine economic advocate, is a not-for-profit grassroots organization created in 2004 to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky's signature multi-breed horse industry. KEEP is committed to ensuring Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world, including educating Kentuckians and elected officials of the importance of the horse industry to the state. KEEP was the driving force in the establishment of the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund, which has paid out more than $177 million to Kentucky breeders since its inception in 2006, and pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing, which has been responsible for more than $40 million to purses and more than $24 million to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

KEEP works to strengthen the horse economy in Kentucky through our statewide network of citizen advocates. To learn more about how you can become a member or support our work, please visit www.horseswork.com.

The post Will Glasscock Promoted To Executive Director Of Kentucky Equine Education Project appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sam Ross, co-owner with Mike Hall of Breeze Easy, LLC, passed on Dec. 22, at the age of 79, in Jupiter, Fla.

Described as a visionary behind many companies, all of which were based in his hometown of Parkersburg, W.V., Ross sold his SBR group in 2006, but continued to own Woodcraft Supply, LLC, a chain of woodworking specialty related stores which operates in 34 states, and to participate in the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

In addition to the sale of SBR, 2006 also marked the formation of the Ross Foundation, which supports charitable efforts in several West Virginia counties.

Ross entered the racing and breeding industry in 2016 when he and business partner, Mike Hall, founded Breeze Easy, LLC.

Quickly becoming a force at the track and in the sale ring – where it is now well represented as both a buyer and seller – Breeze Easy scored a notable racing triumph two years later when the Wesley Ward-trained Shang Shang Shang shipped to Royal Ascot and captured the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. The following year, another Ward trainee, Four Wheel Drive, was undefeated in three juvenile outings, culminating in the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Other standouts to carry the Breeze Easy colors have been multiple graded stakes wining sprint star, Imprimis; Late Night Pow Wow, a West Virginia-bred, who captured the G3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes, and was Grade 1-placed; G3 Marine Stakes scorer Easy Time; multiple stakes winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf third, Outadore; and other stakes winners Curlin's Honor (owned in partnership with John Oxley), Devine Mischief, Curlin's Catch and Karak. Most recently, Boppy O (owned in partnership with John Oxley) captured with 2022 G3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga.

Ross is survived by his wife, Susan Storck Ross, sons Samuel B. “Tres” Ross, III and Spencer Brownell Ross, and four grandchildren. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date to be announced.

The post Breeze Easy Co-Owner Hall Dies At Age 79 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Starting with the new year, one era in Maryland racing is coming to an end while another is just beginning.

Dale Capuano is retiring following a 41-year career as one of the most successful trainers in Maryland history, effective Jan. 1. He is turning his 35-horse stable over to his nephew, Phillip Capuano, whose father is Dale Capuano's younger brother, Gary, a well-established trainer in his own right also based in Maryland.

“I've been thinking about it the last couple of years. This business, for me anyway, it's all I do,” Capuano said. “I've reached a point in my life where I want to do some other things besides get up at 4 o'clock in the morning and work six or seven days a week. It's time for me to do something else and enjoy myself.”

Live racing returns to Laurel Park Thursday for the final three days of the calendar year-ending fall meet. Capuano has three horses entered, and two more on Friday's Christmastide Stakes Day program, rescheduled from Monday due to weather.

The 60-year-old Capuano is 22^nd on the all-time wins list among trainers with 3,661 and his horses have earned more than $68 million in purses. He has topped the $1-million mark in season earnings 34 times, including each of the past 30 years.

Over his distinguished career Capuano led all Maryland trainers in annual wins eight times (1991, 1997-98, 2001-04) and won a total of 31 meet championships at its major tracks, Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course. His first winner was Who's Lucky at old Bowie Race Course on Feb. 21, 1981.

An eight-time graded stakes winner, Capuano extended his record as the most successful trainer in Maryland Million history to 15 wins when 2-year-old Johnyz From Albany captured the Nursery Oct. 22.

“I don't look at it like I've really done all that much. I've never won a Grade 1, I never won a classic-type race. Those things never happened,” he said. “We've had some pretty nice horses. Racing's been good to me and I've had a good career where I've been able to make a decent living doing it and doing what I really love to do. Those are all great things.”

Capuano was born into the family business, a son of late longtime owner and breeder Phil Capuano. He and his brother were raised on the family's farm in the Prince George's County town of Upper Marlboro and began attending races at an early age.

Dale Capuano's career has been one of steady, if unheralded, success, finishing in the top three in annual wins in Maryland 16 consecutive years from 1991 to 2006. He has done it mostly with the classy, hard-knocking, blue collar horses that have defined Maryland's racing history – one that dates back to the founding of the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743.

Among his best horses have been 1990 Trenton Handicap (G3) winner Wind Splitter, a horse he considers among the best he's ever trained, who ran 11^th in the 1989 Kentucky Derby (G1). Heros Reward was a two-time Maryland horse of the year that won or placed in 13 stakes, captured three graded-stakes and earned $1.3 million from 2005 to 2013. Others include Grade 2 winners Prized Stamp and Miss Mischief and multiple stakes winners Just Call Me Carl and In the Curl, the latter finishing in the money in 64 of 85 lifetime starts with nearly $750,000 in purse earnings.

In his early years Capuano had Silano, a 20-time winner from 67 starts between 1986 and 1992 that won nine stakes and was third in the 1990 John B. Campbell Handicap (G3). Goose Bumps was another multiple stakes winner who finished second in the 1988 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap (G3). Later years saw the emergence of such horses as two-time Maryland Million winner Monster Sleeping; undefeated filly Moquist, whose promising career was cut short last fall; and current stable stars Johnyz From Albany, Alwaysinahurry and Vance Scholars, all stakes winners.

“I grew up around it. Unfortunately [my father] only had a few cheap horses. He never had a chance to get any real good horses but you learn a lot from those, that's for sure,” Capuano said. “We've had some really fun horses.

“Just Call Me Carl, he was really a nice horse to be around. A little hard to work with in the beginning but he turned out to be really nice. Of course, at the very beginning Silano and Goose Bumps were really good for us early in my career. Wind Splitter, we claimed that one and he ran in the Kentucky Derby. Of course, Heros Reward, he was a nice claim and made over a million dollars. We've had some good horses. Prized stamp, Moquist in later years. There's just been a number of them that have been really good to us.”

Capuano credited his owners, many of which he maintained throughout his career, with being the foundation of his success.

“What's really kept me going is I've had great clients pretty much my entire career. That makes life so much easier,” Capuano said. “People like Lou Ulman, we've been together over 30 years. Steve Newby, Neil Glasser. Unfortunately some of them have passed away that were with me in the beginning – Harvey Linden was really helpful for me in the beginning of my career.

“There's so many I could name. Now we have Mopo Racing with Maury Povich, just great, great people to work with. Super C Racing. I don't want to leave anybody out,” he added. “It just makes my job so much easier when you have great people to work with.”

Third in Laurel's fall meet standings with 19 wins from 90 starters, Capuano is seventh in the annual Maryland standings with 51 wins in 2022 and is 63-for-343 with more than $2.5 million in purse earnings overall. He is excited for his nephew to continue the family tradition.

“He's been with me in the barn every day since Delaware closed, and he's worked for me before so he kind of knows my routine and he knows the horses,” Capuano said. “He always handles the horses for Gary at Delaware every year. When we shipped to Delaware he always took care of everything there for us. We usually kept a couple horses with him up there each season so he knows my owners and he knows the horses. I think he'll just step right in on Jan. 1. Like I told my employees, it'll just be a different person behind the desk. Phil's a great kid. He's a hard-worker, honest, and he'll do just fine. I have no doubts about that.”

For Dale Capuano, at least the early retirement plans are simple ones.

“Just rest a little bit, because I haven't had a vacation in about five years. I'll probably take some trips around different places and start to live a little bit,” he said. “Get myself back in gym and get back in shape like I need to be, and work on myself a little bit.”

The post ‘Racing’s Been Good To Me’: Maryland Mainstay Capuano To Retire From 41-Year Training Career This Weekend appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Just three live race days remain in 2022 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit. To celebrate the season, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of racing personalities to get their reflections on a memorable year.

Jockey Dylan Davis, 28, comes from a racing-oriented family. His father, trainer Robbie Davis, is a retired multiple Grade 1-winning jockey. His sisters – Katie and Jackie – are also jockeys and his brother Eddie is a trainer based on the NYRA circuit.

The native of Manhasset, New York, has enjoyed his best season in 10 years of riding, posting career bests this year in wins [192] and purse earnings [$13,067,692]. In March, he captured his first riding title by notching 63 victories at the 2021-22 Aqueduct winter meet.

With only three race days remaining in 2022 at Aqueduct, Davis could add to a tremendous season as he currently leads all riders with 183 wins on the NYRA circuit in 2022 – an 11 victory advantage over his nearest rival, Manny Franco. In addition, Davis is currently in second place at the Big A fall meet, which concludes on December 31, with 28 wins, just two scores shy of the leading Kendrick Carmouche.

His graded stakes triumphs this year came aboard Glass Ceiling [Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park] as well as with Boppy O. [Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga Race Course].

Davis lives in Garden City with his wife Sara and their two children, Michael and Demi.

After years of riding year round on the New York circuit, how important was it to win a riding title?

Davis: “It means a lot. It was the first title I've ever had and to be able to see everything come together meant a lot to me. I stuck it out with Mike Migliore, my agent throughout the years on the NYRA circuit. To be able to accomplish that feels great when you work so hard at something. There are no words to describe it, but I feel very honored and grateful.”

This has been your best year in terms of wins and earnings. In a year of so many accomplishments, who do you attribute most of the credit to?

Davis: “All the horses. And again, my agent. He took me on when I was ready to leave New York and he saw something in me and pushed me further than I thought I was ever going to go. He's always believed in me and always pushed me. He said that one day I'm going to be there, I just have to work hard and that's what we're doing now. Everything kind of fell into place this past year, so I'm just continuing to hope for the best and push for a better year. I felt like me and Mike working hard together every year and putting ourselves in the right position has been highly instrumental. I have other mentors, my father, and all the owners and the trainers that believed in me and trusted me to ride their horses and then it's my job to get the job done.”

Towards the end of last year, you captured your first Grade 1 aboard Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine. Did that give you the momentum you needed to have a year like this?

Davis: “Oh yes, of course. I always have big goals of being a part of that elite group of Grade 1 caliber jockeys. I feel like I'm not quite there yet, so I'm still trying to push myself to get into that group. But that Grade 1 really helped me a lot because I had a trainer like Christophe Clement, who believed in me in that category and I was able to get the job done. To get that first one was good, and it boosted my confidence. I had Flavien Prat [aboard Kalifornia Queen] on my inside that day and Joel Rosario [aboard La Dragontea] on my outside closing hard, so to beat them that day felt great and boosted my confidence.”

You come from a very racing-oriented upbringing. How influential has your father been from the beginning?

Davis: “Even before I started riding, he's taught me a lot. I've had a lot of mentors throughout my career, but my dad really set the tone early on. Even in my first year of riding, he was calling me every day and we were reviewing tapes. Not so much today, he says I'm riding great, but I've always told him, 'You've got to tell me something, I need to hear some criticism' because I like that. I always try to push myself. But he says I'm riding great, I just need to keep on pushing.”

This year, Saratoga reintroduced the Wilson Chute. How did it feel from a rider's perspective?

Davis: “I like it because some horses don't want to go the full two turns and seven furlongs might be too much of a sprint for some of them. It's nice to have some variables when you come off the turf with different distances to choose from.”

Any rides that you were most proud of?

Davis: “I won with Miss Dracarys [in the Forever Together on November 20 at Aqueduct], for the same owners as Mutamakina, Al Shira'aa Farms. I've had a lot of success with them. I've won some stakes all through the year, Grade 2s and 3s, but every win is special.”

Do people tell you that your riding style is similar to that of your father's?

Davis: “I hear that a lot. I was young when my dad retired, so I can only go off tapes or YouTube to be able to watch him. I don't remember dad riding that much. I've never actually tried to mimic his style, I just ride what's comfortable for me and how I feel in the saddle and people say I look like my dad, so I guess that's just genetics. I think it's pretty cool.”

What are your goals for 2023?

Davis: “To win more titles and Grade 1s. I'm just always trying to do better than the previous year and stay healthy.”

The post ‘I’m Just Always Trying To Do Better Than The Previous Year’: Jockey Dylan Davis Relishing Best Season Ever appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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