People | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fitzgibbon Joins Open Nutrition As Director Of Sales And Client Development

Open Nutrition, a leading, global horse supplement company specializing in all-natural amino acid-based products, is pleased to announce that Stuart Fitzgibbon has been appointed as director of sales and client development for its new United States based division.

Open Nutrition USA, operating out of Lexington, Ky., offers a variety of proven products for all breeds and disciplines including racing, breeding and sport horses. The renowned Kentucky veterinary practice Hagyard Equine Medicine Institute has joined forces with Open Nutrition founder Julian Norrish to launch, promote, and develop future products based upon innovative amino acid research.

“The many products that we initially developed and marketed in Australia and the United Arab Emirates have led to great success for a significant number of trainers and farms operating in various equine disciplines,” said Norrish. “Leading Thoroughbred trainers including Doug Watson have benefitted from the use of Open Nutrition products that have quickened horses' recovery time from races, built muscle and greatly improved their condition. We have just commenced operations in America but already have received tremendous feedback from horsemen such as Eddie Woods who have witnessed in a short space of time significant improvements in their horses.”

“When I met Julian it was clearly evident through his enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise of amino acids science that Open Nutrition's products will be of huge benefit for all horsemen and women in our business,” said Fitzgibbon, who was formerly one of two commercial and equine managers for Castleton Lyons. “The company's product line is especially important in the present environment where natural supplements can play an important role to increase the general competitiveness and wellbeing of all horses. Further, the integrity that Hagyard's veterinary practice provides, along with regular product certification from the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Laboratory, validates Open Nutrition's position as a quality provider of natural supplements in the equine industry.”

The post Fitzgibbon Joins Open Nutrition As Director Of Sales And Client Development appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jockeys And Jeans Fundraiser At Churchill Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Churchill Downs and Jockeys and Jeans mutually agreed to cancel the fundraiser for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund that had been planned at the historic track for Nov. 14.

“It's sad because the needs of former jockeys who suffered career ending injuries go on,” said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. “But, given the need to battle this deadly disease, it is necessary.”

“Due to the nature of Jockey and Jeans and the way it brings people together from all over the country, we want to ensure that it can be held at Churchill Downs when it can be the biggest and best,” said Mike Ziegler, executive director of racing at Churchill. “We are saddened to postpone the 2020 event, but in full agreement with PDJF and Jockey and Jeans' choice.”

Pearl said the group will be contacting those who already purchased sponsorships and will keep the racing world posted on future fundraising events.

“We all know it has been a most difficult time for the nation as well as the sport we all know and love,” he said. “But I am convinced the family that is horse racing will continue to reach out to help support those who traded a set of stirrups for the foot stands on wheelchairs.”

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund pays a $1,000 monthly stipend to some 60 former jockeys who suffered catastrophic racing injures. Some 40 are either pari- or quadriplegics, while others suffered severe brain injuries.

The event typically attracts 15 or more jockey Hall of Fame members who gather to honor the six permanently disabled former jockeys who attend. Jockeys and Jeans was founded in late 2014 by a group of former jockeys, which has raised over $1.5 million for the PDJF through six annual events and several stallion season sales.

“We are the ones who walked away intact,” said Pearl, a former jockey. “And our efforts to stand for our fallen brothers and sisters will go on thanks to the heart touching support of the racing community.”

The post Jockeys And Jeans Fundraiser At Churchill Cancelled Due To COVID-19 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Horse Farm Workers Educational Assistance Fund Names 23 Scholarship Recipients

Twenty three children of full-time horse farm workers are pursuing higher education this year with the assistance of the Horse Farm Workers' Educational Assistance Fund. To date, 707 annual scholarships totaling $1,554,150 have been awarded since the Fund's inception.

Scholarships are awarded for education or skill training after high school and are based upon financial need, merit, biographical essays and personal interviews. Scholarships are also available for full-time horse farm workers in central Kentucky who wish to take equine related training or courses to help them be more knowledgeable and effective while working with Thoroughbred horses.

Three recipients also distinguish themselves as Pollard Scholars at the University of Kentucky: Sarah Farrell, Lupe Macias and Miguel Macias.

SCHOLARS AND SCHOOLS:

Riley Alexander – Eastern KY U
Marissa Bowman – BCTC*
Olivia Bryant – U of Kentucky
Caleb Carr – Transylvania UJacob Compton – U of Kentucky
Karime Dominguez – Eastern KY U.
Ciara Farrell – Georgetown College
Sarah Farrell – U of Kentucky
Dylan Gilbert – Murray State U
Trenton Gilbert – U of Kentucky
Jayden Hamilton – Campbellsville U
Ruth Hughes – U of Notre Dame
Enrique Macias – BCTC*
Lupe Macias – U of Kentucky
Miguel Macias – U of Kentucky
Saorise McEntee – U of Kentucky
Claire Nickell – Asbury U
Richard Osborn – Bellarmine U
Alondra Perez-Islas – JCTC**
Caleb Reams – Asbury U
Morgan Snellings – Western KY U
Reagan Toothaker – Thomas More U.
Kenzie Trent – Asbury U

*Bluegrass Community and Technical College **Jefferson Community and Technical College

Farms represented by scholars:
Qualifying parents of scholars are employed full-time by one of the following central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms:

Airdrie Stud, Ashview Farm, Betz Thoroughbreds (2), Denali Stud, Endeavor Farm, Far Cry Farm, Glennview Farm, Godolphin USA (3), Hermitage, Indian Creek Farm, Miacomet Farm, Rosemont Farm (2), Shadwell Farm, Silver Fern Farm, Solstice Farm, Spendthrift Farm (2), Walmac Farm, Watercress Farm (2), and Westbrook Farm.

The Fund was founded in 1996 by Rob Whiteley of Liberation Farm, Tom Evans of Trackside Farm, and Fred Seitz of Brookdale Farm.

Tom Evans, President, states: “In pursuit of their dreams, many of our scholars work 20 or more hours per week at one or two jobs while carrying a full course load. Our main goal is to award enough money so that they can focus on their studies and make school their number one priority without incurring a huge burden of long-term student loan debt.

“Investing in these young people is also an investment in the industry,” Evans added. “Many of our scholars after successfully completing their studies have returned to pursue careers in the Thoroughbred industry. Several have already distinguished themselves (including a Director of Racing at a major North American track). Many who have chosen careers outside the industry have made their mark as professionals in nursing, education, social work, theology, and business.

“We are grateful for all contributors who have so generously supported and valued this remarkable group of young scholars. Over the years, we have received significant contributions from the Carl Pollard Foundation, Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, KTA, Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, Darley and Godolphin, Hill 'n' Dale Farm, Thoroughbred Charities of America, William Marquard, W.T. Young, Race for Education, the Crafty Prospector syndicate, and many other individual donors.”

According to co-founder, Whiteley: “These scholars and parents are an industry treasure. Farm workers are the backbone of the breeding industry and therefore the foundation of the entire Thoroughbred industry. The parents of these scholars have instilled an incredible work ethic in their children. Year after year, these outstanding young people impress the Board with their ability, motivation, energy, enthusiasm, and accomplishments. In many instances, our scholars are the first in their families to pursue secondary education; and some could not pursue education without our financial assistance.”

Board members include: President Tom Evans of Trackside Farm; Vice-President Dan Pride of Godolphin; Secretary Judge Wilson of Berea College; Treasurer Mary Ryan, educator and horsewoman; Rob Whiteley of Liberation Farm; Stu Pollard, educator and filmmaker; and Chet Blackey, DVM. Carl Pollard is an active advisor to the Board. Muffy Stuart serves as coordinator of the Fund and provides personal communication, guidance, and support to the scholars throughout the year.

DONATIONS AND APPLICATIONS:
Tax deductible contributions are welcome and may be sent to HFWEAF, 2938 Four Pines Drive, Lexington, KY 40502. The Fund is run on a volunteer basis and 90+% of donor monies flow through to scholarship recipients. Applications are available in March with a July 1^stdeadline, followed by personal interviews with the Board. Inquiries may be made to 859 269-1719 or for more information, please refer to the website www.horsefarmworkerseducationfund.com.

The post Horse Farm Workers Educational Assistance Fund Names 23 Scholarship Recipients appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Chad Brown Finally Going For The Green At Kentucky Downs

With two wins from three starters on opening day and another four horses entered this weekend, Chad Brown – America's champion turf trainer for eight consecutive years – has made a connection this season with Kentucky Downs, the one track in the U.S.A. that runs all its races on grass.

Now that he has a Kentucky division based at Churchill Downs managed by Whit Beckman, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer is better positioned to compete for the exceptional purses offered by Kentucky Downs over its distinctive European-style course.

“I think a lot of it is just stabling at Churchill, the proximity now gives us that option,” Beckman said of running at Kentucky Downs, where an average of $2 million a day is scheduled to be paid out in purses over this six-date meet. “Where focusing primarily on Saratoga and the Northeast in the past, shipping-wise it didn't make a lot of sense. You'd run in Kentucky on Derby Day and be out and back in New York pretty soon afterward. I think just having the string down here at Churchill makes it doable and easy. We're in and out in a day, just like any other race-and-return situation.”

Now the friendly ribbing is that Brown finally found Kentucky Downs, and he didn't waste any time capitalizing. His team pounced on Monday's opening card and collected total of $500,400 with a victory by Juddmonte Farm's Flavius in the $750,000 Tourist Mile Stakes and Head of Plains Partners' Fluffy Socks in a $90,000 maiden special weight race.

“I'm thrilled getting to go to Kentucky Downs,” said Beckman, a Louisville product who never before had the opportunity to go to the track while working for New York-based Todd Pletcher and now Brown. “I thought it was an awesome place. Just such a nice place to race horses, just a different feel from your traditional racetrack dynamics. I loved it down there. I thought it was great.”

Led by Regal Glory, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the one-mile G3 English Channel Ladies Turf, the Brown barn will be well-represented this weekend. Graded stakes-placed Tapit Today also has a place in the gate for the Ladies Turf; Klaravich Stable's Front Run the Fed looks to be a contender in the deep G3 RUNHAPPY Turf Sprint field; Lady Lawyer is on the also-eligible list for the G3 Real Solution Ladies Sprint and needs a couple of defections to draw into the body of the race.

Brown's rise to the top of the North American trainer's standings table has been fueled by his skill with turf horses. After a five-year run on the staff of the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, Brown opened his own stable in Nov. 2007, managing a total of 10 horses sent to him by prominent owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Gary and Mary West. Brown's first graded stakes win came a year later on the turf in the G3 Miss Grillo with Maram, who then gave Brown his first Breeder's Cup win in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

In 2012, Brown ended the season atop the turf training earnings list, a spot he has maintained in every year since. Last year, his turf horses earned $24.2 million of his all-surfaces total of $31.1 million.

Regal Glory, bred and owned by Paul Pompa, made a substantial contribution to the Brown stable's turf earnings last year, banking $338,834 with a 3-2-0 record from six grass starts as a 3-year-old. The daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom won the Penn Oaks and completed the Saratoga double of the G3 Lake George and the G2 Lake Placid. She is winless in three starts – two of them G1 races – since the Lake Placid last August. Each of those races was won by another filly or mare from Brown's deep stable of female grass runners. Following a fourth-place finish in the G1 Just A Game at Belmont Park, Regal Glory was shipped to Kentucky in early August and has had five works for Beckman. Jose Ortiz, with two wins and three seconds in five starts on Regal Glory, has the mount.

“She's been training away down at Churchill and we're really happy with her progress and how she's maintaining,” Beckman said. “She's just been up against tough stablemates.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano rode Flavius in the Tourist Stakes and will be aboard Tapit Today for the first time in the Ladies Turf. The 5-year-old Tapit Today, co-owned by William Lawrence and Bradley Thoroughbreds, returned from a five-month layoff to run fourth, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Nay Lady Nay, in the G3 Matchmaker on July 18 at Monmouth Park. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit is seeking her first stakes victory.

Front Run the Fed enters the RUNHAPPY Turf Sprint off a two-month break in races following his victory in an allowance/optional claimer at on July 5 at Belmont Park. He has been the favorite in his last eight races, winning four, topped by the Better Talk Now in 2019 at Saratoga. This will be his first try in graded-stakes company and first six-furlong race since April 2019 for the off-the-pace runner.

Rabbah Bloodstock's Lady Lawyer, a daughter of Blame bred by Claiborne Farm, started her career in Europe with John Gosden. She was moved to the U.S. to Brown's care this season and has a win and a second in two starts for her new trainer. In her most recent start, she prevailed by a neck in the 5 ½-furlong allowance/optional claimer, her first win on turf. All three of her wins in Great Britain were over artificial surfaces.

The post Trainer Chad Brown Finally Going For The Green At Kentucky Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post