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Tag: Racing
New Arrangements For Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance In England
The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has announced the implementation of key steps towards re-establishing on a long-term basis the essential equine infectious disease surveillance provision that had been performed by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) until its closure in July 2020.
Acting on the recommendations of an industry-wide committee set up to assess options for the future, HBLB has concluded an agreement from August 2021 with Rossdales Ltd to provide the diagnostic microbiology testing capacity, arrangements that will work in conjunction with the epidemiological surveillance and monitoring unit that will now be based at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School.
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Since the closure of the AHT, the surveillance services have been provided by the former AHT team headed by Dr. Richard Newton on a temporary basis under contract to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). This team will be employed by Cambridge University under the new agreement and will continue to respond to disease outbreak incidents and to produce daily updates on infectious disease reports worldwide for the benefit of the health of all horses, Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred.
Over the past year, diagnostics have been available to Dr. Newton's team on an ad hoc basis from Rossdales Ltd, and funded by HBLB. Full coverage has therefore been maintained, meaning that the team was able to respond promptly and effectively to any incidents of disease.
The new arrangements will span an interim period of at least two years while options for the longer term are considered and developed.
Funding will be provided, as previously, by HBLB, racehorse owners and the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA). Discussions are also being held with the sport and leisure horse interests regarding potential contributions in the future.
In addition, HBLB has formed a representative oversight committee, with HBLB Government Appointed Member Anne Lambert as its chair. The membership will include representatives from HBLB's Veterinary Advisory Committee, the TBA, the Racehorse Owners Association, the BHA and the non-Thoroughbred sport and leisure sectors. This committee will have responsibility for monitoring the service in its initial phase and for designing plans for future, with the paramount objective of safeguarding the national herd. Full engagement between the Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred sectors in respect of infectious disease management will underpin the work which includes the development of an epidemic risk management plan.
Alan Delmonte, Chief Executive of HBLB, said: “This is an important milestone in putting in place successor arrangements to the services that had been carried out by the Animal Health Trust for a long time. A full evaluation of the current situation and the equine sector's requirements took place including through a tender process that was announced by BHA in 2020. Substantial work has been done by Stephen Atkin, who was retained to act as project manager of this complex area that has taken many months to consider. As well as now engaging the widely recognized expertise of Rossdales, it will be welcomed that it has been possible to retain the previous AHT team headed by Dr. Richard Newton. All in the equine sector are grateful to them for continuing to provide disease monitoring coverage and reaction to outbreaks given the challenging circumstances of the past year.”
Dr. Alastair Foote, director of Rossdales Laboratories, added: “We are delighted to have been awarded the tender, and to be able to provide continuity of the former AHT services that were critical to the equine industry, maintaining essential diagnostic testing and surveillance work. Our recent major investment in new laboratory facilities at our Newmarket site has meant we have been able to rapidly accommodate the required testing requirements, with new tissue culture and virus isolation facilities, and we look forward to working alongside the surveillance and research team at Cambridge.”
Read more here.
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Pair Of Juvenile Stakes Highlight Friday’s Card At Woodbine
A pair of competitive $150,000 two-year-old stakes, the Clarendon Presented by HBPA of Ontario, and the Shady Well Presented by Pepsi, share the spotlight on Friday's eight-race card at Woodbine.
Each set for 5 ½-furlongs over the Tapeta, the Clarendon and Shady Well, for Ontario-bred rookies, will be featured on Racing Light Live, to be broadcast from 7-9 p.m. ET on TSN.
The card also includes the final leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series, which drew 11 hopefuls for the 1 ¾-mile marathon on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
Trainer Andrew Smith has cross-entered the filly Silent Resent in both stakes.
A dark bay daughter of Silent Name (JN), the dark bay, bred and owned by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, made her debut on Aug. 7 a winning one.
Sent on her way at 14-1, Silent Resent converted a head advantage at the stretch call of the six-furlong Tapeta race into a four-length win in 1:11.33.
“It was a nice win,” said Smith. “I'm not sure about the caliber of horses we beat, but she won quite easily. I thought she'd run a good race first time out because she had shown quite a bit in the morning.”
In her most recent start, the one-mile Victorian Queen Stakes contested on the Toronto oval's Inner Turf, she finished sixth, six lengths back of the winner.
“She was pretty rank early and that was kind of the end of the race for her,” offered Smith. “Had she rated a little better, I think she would have run a little better. I thought she was going to run better, so I was disappointed there. I thought she'd stretch out, but she didn't relax for us. That was the main problem. Had she relaxed she would have been able to finish better.”
Smith, who is enjoying a solid 2021 campaign, believes the filly will come back with a stronger effort on Friday.
“She's heading into this next start doing pretty good. She's certainly sharp and I think she'll like the cut back in distance. Around the barn, she's very aggressive. She wants to train hard all the time and is go, go, go all the time.”
Trainer Katerina Vassilieva will send out first-time winner My Girl Sky in the Shady Well.
A daughter of graded stakes winner Dynamic Sky, My Girl Sky overcame a less-than-ideal start in her career bow on September 5th at Woodbine.
“She's got a lot of heart and determination,” said Vassilieva. “She has that will to win. She had every excuse not to run well after having sort of been bumped at the break and missing a step. But she came flying home. I think she's a gutsy filly and it's worth taking a shot in a spot like this.”
Vassilieva wasn't quite sure how the grey filly would respond the rest of the way after the tough beginning.
“I was surprised that she had that kind of a break because when Steve [jockey, Bahen] worked her from the gate – there were two other horses in with her that day – she broke the fastest and the sharpest. I think both myself and Steve were expecting her to, if not be on top, to be somewhere in the mix of things early – very close to the pace or on the lead.”
The conditioner's expectations on where My Girl Sky, owned by Kevin Drew, would eventually finish changed throughout the course of the race.
“When that (breaking sharply) didn't happen, I hoped she would have a good experience and learn something from it. As the race went on, I thought we had a chance to hit the board. Then, I realized we actually had a chance to win. That's when it got exciting. She had a really good closing kick and she really ran on when Steve called on her. That was nice to see.”
Vassilieva has enjoyed working with her young charge.
“She's a sweetheart. She loves people and she's very kind. She loves attention and she loves her work. She's all business on the track. She loves to train and seems to enjoy being a racehorse, I would say.”
Dan Vella, who won consecutive editions of the Shady Well, in 1994 with Honky Tonk Tune and one year later with Heavenly Valley, is represented by Marie MacKay in this year's running
Bred and owned by Track West Racing and Donald Whalen, the daughter of Noble Mission (GB) debuted on September 11 at Woodbine, finishing second at 14-1 to Aubrieta in the 5 ½-furlong race on the Tapeta.
Aubrieta, a two-year-old daughter of Speightster, trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, looked impressive in that 1 ¾-length score last month.
The Conrad Farms' homebred will once again be ridden by Patrick Husbands in the Shady Well.
Six contenders, including Simcoe Stakes champion, Ironstone, will vie for top spot in the Clarendon.
The Shady Well is slated as race six. The Clarendon is scheduled as race seven on Friday's 4:45 p.m. program.
Fan can watch and wager on all the action with HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.
$150,000 SHADY WELL STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Aubrieta – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
2 – My Girl Sky – Steven Bahen – Katerina Vassilieva
3 – Silent Resent – David Moran – Andrew Smith
4 – Ya Mar (S) – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse
5 – Shanghai Shamrock – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
6 – Marie MacKay – Justin Stein – Daniel Vella
7 – Silver Magnatized – Gary Boulanger – Kevin Attard
$150,000 CLARENDON STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Silent Runner – David Moran – Michael Doyle
2 – Silent Resent – Antonio Gallardo – Andrew Smith
3 – Ironstone – Ademar Santos – Willie Armata
4 – Bossy Holiday – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
5 – Drop a Caribou – Daisuke Fukumoto – Robert Tiller
6 – Repeat the Heat – Rafael Hernandez – Michel De Paulo
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Delta Downs Takes Entries For Opening Day Of Thoroughbred Season
Delta Downs racing office took entries on Tuesday for the opening day program of its upcoming 2021-22 Thoroughbred season. The 84-day stand will kick off on Oct. 13 and run through March 5. First post time each Wednesday and Thursday will be at 12:55 pm Central Time and the first race every Friday and Saturday night will begin at 5:55 pm.
A total of 92 horses, including also eligible horses, were entered in the nine-race program to start the season. Delta Downs allows a maximum of 10 horses to compete in each race, however the track does include up to two 'also eligible' horses in each event if there are enough entries to warrant it. The track began using 'also eligible' horses a few years ago and it has led to larger average field sizes and more betting opportunities for the wagering public.
The first stakes activity of the season will take place on opening weekend with the $100,000 Magnolia Stakes for 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares on Friday night, Oct. 15, and the $100,000 Gold Cup for 3-year-olds and up going as the Saturday night headliner. Both races are restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.
Several streaks will be on the line this season in the horsemen ranks at Delta Downs this year. Karl Broberg will attempt to win his 11th consecutive training title while Tim Thornton will try to extend his streak to four straight riding titles. The ownership group of End Zone Athletics, Inc., which includes Broberg and Matt Johanson, will be looking to extend their run of six titles in a row this meet. Overall, they have captured nine of the last 10 owner crowns at the southwest Louisiana oval.
For more information about the upcoming season, including the entire stakes schedule, visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about the track through Facebook by visiting the page 'Delta Downs Racing'. The track's Twitter handle is @deltaracing.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
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