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Trainer Mark Casse's stakes winning filly Strategic Bird headlines a field of eleven 3-year-old fillies set to compete in the second running of the Cheryl C. White Memorial Stakes this Saturday at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, Ohio.

Strategic Bird enters the race off back to back third place stakes efforts and will be searching for her first win since scoring in the Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa in December. Also looking to cross the wire first are a pair of fillies out of the barn of trainer Anthony Farrior, stakes-placed Beneath the Stars and supplemental entry Jackie the Joker.

The race is named in honor of the late Cheryl C. White, the first African American female jockey to win a Thoroughbred race in the United States.

“We are proud to be able to recognize a pioneer for not only women, but African Americans, in the sport of racing,” said Elizabeth Rogers, Assistant Director of Racing. “Cheryl's memory and her story should be known to a wider audience.”

In a jockey career spanning more than twenty years, Cheryl would eventually retire with over 750 career wins before moving into the stewards stand in California. Ultimately, she would find herself returning to her home state of Ohio where she continued to work in the industry joining the racing office at the newly opened Mahoning Valley Race Course in 2014. She continued to work in the office until her passing in 2019.

“Cheryl rarely spoke about her riding career, that wasn't her way,” said Mahoning Valley Racing Secretary Ed Vomacka. “I didn't know until I saw that she had ridden in the Lady Legends at Pimlico.”

Ask anyone who worked alongside her at Mahoning Valley and they would say much the same. Cheryl may have been humble about her career but the memory of her contributions to the sport lives on.

The Cheryl C. White Memorial Stake is scheduled as the sixth race on the card with an estimated post time of 2:34 p.m. and will be included in two of three mandatory payouts scheduled for closing day, the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6 and the Pick 4. The Pick 5 is also scheduled for a mandatory payout and covers races one through five. Handicappers will have one final opportunity to take down the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6 this Friday, April 15.

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course's current race meet ends this Saturday, April 16. Racing is scheduled to return for the 2022 Fall race meet on Friday, October 21.

The post ‘Pioneer’ Jockey Cheryl White Honored With Namesake Race This Saturday At Mahoning Valley appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dr. Dean Richardson, who rose to international prominence in 2006 through his efforts to save Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro after the colt suffered a severe injury in the Preakness Stakes, is recovering from surgery conducted on Tuesday following a riding accident two days earlier.

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet)  issued the following statement on Wednesday:

“As many in the equine community are aware, Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery, was injured in a riding accident on Sunday, April 10, 2022. Dr. Richardson underwent surgery on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Legions of students, former and current residents, veterinarians, trainers and equestrians from around the world have reached out to express their love for Dr. Richardson and their profound appreciation for how he has touched their lives. The entire Penn Vet community remains positive and hopeful as Dean begins his recovery. We are making every effort to support Dr. Richardson and his family and will share updates when appropriate.”

Richardson was the chief of large animal surgery at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., and led the team that reconstructed Barbaro's right hind leg, which had multiple fractures after being pulled up quickly after the start of the Preakness by jockey Edgar Prado. Along with Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, Richardson went to extraordinary lengths to explain to the public the injury, the surgical procedures and recovery process that followed in a series of press conferences, television appearances and interviews.

In the end, when Barbaro was euthanized due to the onset of laminitis in January 2007, Richardson patiently explained to the media and the public during a press conference why the decision was ultimately made. Richardson was part of “Team Barbaro” that was recognized with a Special Eclipse Award for the transparent manner in which they handled the situation from the time of Barbaro's injury until his death nearly nine months later. He's won numerous other awards and commendations for teaching, research and surgery.

Richardson received his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 1979 and has remained at New Bolton throughout his career after completing his internship there.

The post Dr. Dean Richardson, Who Led Efforts To Save Barbaro, Has Surgery Following Riding Accident appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Patrick Mackey is no longer handling the duties of director of racing and racing secretary at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.

Hired in 2014 after serving as assistant racing secretary at New York Racing Association tracks, Arlington Park, Hawthorne, Gulfstream Park, Great Lakes Downs and Fair Meadows, Mackey departed abruptly in early April.

Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing, which operates Golden Gate Fields for The Stronach Group, declined to comment on what he called a personnel matter but said that the company would be putting out a statement.

Mackey is the son of the late Michael Mackey, a longtime racing executive at Thistledown, Hialeah Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Detroit Racing Course.

Assistant racing secretary Steve Martinelli is currently handling Mackey's former duties for the meet that ends June 12.

The post Mackey Departs As Golden Gate Fields Racing Secretary appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sam Houston Race Park closed the curtain on its 50-day Thoroughbred live racing season on Saturday, April 9.

The northwest Houston racetrack will usher in its 2022 Quarter Horse meet with a respected industry veteran as the new Director of Racing. Bart Lang has accepted the position and will oversee the racing operations for Sam Houston Race Park, Retama Park in Selma, Texas, and Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico. Each of the three racetracks are owned by Penn National Gaming. Inc.

Born in Timonium, Md., Lang's first job was working for Bonita Farm, grooming, hot walking and learning the essentials of horse care and training from the highly respected Boniface family.

He had tenures in the racing offices of Oaklawn Park, Arlington Park and Hawthorne early in his career prior to becoming the first racing secretary at Lone Star Park. He was on board in the Fall of 1996 throughout the completion of the Grand Prairie racetrack's inaugural season in 1997. Lang directed all racing operations at Lone Star Park for both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meets, through May, 2020. Most recently, he has served as the stakes coordinator at Oaklawn Park.

Lang, 53, will be based at Sam Houston Race Park, beginning May 16.

“I'm excited about joining the team,” said Lang. “I have over 20 years in the Texas racing industry and know these horsemen and women very well. My tenure at Oaklawn Park has been very rewarding and it has been a pleasure working with many of the most prominent connections in the country.”

He will succeed James C. Leatherman who has accepted a position as a Texas state steward.

Having a racing director to oversee each of the three Penn Gaming tracks has been a goal for the organization and Dwight Berube, Sam Houston Race Park's Manager, looks forward to Lang joining the company.

“Bart is a respected racing director with a solid history in Texas racing,” said Berube. “He will also play a key role in attracting top connections to our 2023 Houston Racing Festival.”

The post Bart Lang Named Director Of Racing at Sam Houston, Retama, And Zia Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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