Shared News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letter to the Editor: Frank Shipp

Some of the rare joys during this eventful year have resulted from Mr. Branchini’s “What’s in a Name” columns, highlighting clever uses of the King’s (Queen’s?) English in what may be one of our most difficult tasks in racing–namely that of naming a horse. Joy, that is, until extolling the talents of Mr. Ricky Gervais in Wednesday’s edition.

We recall all too readily the actor’s vitriol against horse racing over the past eight years or so, and confirmed our memory with a cursory internet search. Not including Mr. Gervais’s own rantings, one of the articles contained the following bit of claptrap from its author, when describing for the uninitiated how we deal with injured animals–“Horses can adapt to prosthetic legs, given their caretaker’s willingness to pay for the operation and treatment. But horse racing is for the financial benefit of the “owner,” so injured animals are typically treated as disposable commodities.” PETA had its familiar hand in that one, but as Mr. Gervais obviously promotes such sentiment and outright distortion of the facts, one would hope that, moving forward, the TDN could find more appropriate examples of clever adventures in appellative pursuits.

When faced with the expected pushback from those in the British horse racing professions, Mr. Gervais made the following rebuttal: “The only valid form of any sort of censorship of ideas in the art is the right of people not to listen.” Having availed ourselves of this right for the past several years as regards Mr. Gervais’s performances on screen and through the airwaves, we humbly suggest that TDN consider a similar response.

Thanks always for your efforts in a very informative publication, and continued best wishes as we navigate through the remainder of this pandemic.

Kind regards,

Frank Shipp, Upperville, VA

The post Letter to the Editor: Frank Shipp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

AAEP Honors Palmer, Scollay and New Vocations

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has presented Scott Palmer, VMD, its 2020 Sage Kester “Beyond the Call” Award. The award is named in honor of its first recipient, the late Wayne O. “Sage” Kester, DVM, and recognizes a current or former AAEP member who has made significant and long-lasting contributions to equine veterinary medicine and the community. A past president of the AAEP, Palmer worked in clinical practice as a staff surgeon and hospital director of the New Jersey Equine Clinic for 38 years. He was appointed equine medical director for the New York State Gaming Commission in 2014 and his safety reforms recommendation implemented at the state’s racetracks are credited with elevating New York racing to among the safest in the country and have served as a model for racing stakeholders in other regions.

Palmer’s contributions to racehorse safety also include current service on the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium Scientific Advisory Committee and on the Association of Racing Commissioners International Drug Testing Standards & Practices Committee and Equine Welfare & Veterinarians Committee.

“As a leader, Dr. Palmer comes to any challenge fully prepared, listens attentively to all opinions, is always willing to adjust his own position if indicated, and clearly and respectfully articulates his opinions,” said nominator Dr. Harry Werner. “These leadership qualities are very much respected by those who work with him.”

During the AAEP’s 2020 Annual Convention & Trade Show, held virtually Dec. 9, the group also honored Mary Scollay, DVM with its Distinguished Service Award. Scollay, now in her fourth term on the AAEP’s Racing Committee, is executive director and COO of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. She also spent 11 years as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s first equine medical director and 13 years as senior association veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park in south Florida. While in Florida, she conceptualized and developed the forerunner to The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database, to which she has served as a veterinary consultant since its launch in 2008.

“With her unwavering philosophy that the health and welfare of the horse remains paramount above all else, Dr. Scollay has provided many years of outstanding service to the veterinary profession, steadfast dedication to the equine industry, and deep commitment to the mission of the AAEP,” said nominator Dr. Patricia Marquis.

The AAEP honored New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, the largest racehorse adoption charity in the United States, with the 2020 Lavin Cup, recognizing a non-veterinary organization or individual that has distinguished itself through service to improve the welfare of horses.

Founded in 1992, New Vocations’ mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,000 individuals, with nearly 500 retirees served by the program each year. With facilities in five states–Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Louisiana–New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options.

“New Vocations has a longstanding commitment to the health and welfare of the equine athletes that deserve help in transitioning to a healthy and productive second career,” said co-nominators Dr. Jeff Berk and Dr. Wesley Sutter. “In every sense, they have partnered with us, the equine veterinarians who seek the same goals for our patients.”

During its annual convention and trade show, the AAEP also installed Scott Hay, DVM, president and managing shareholder of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based racetrack practice Teigland, Franklin and Brokken DVMs, as president.

The post AAEP Honors Palmer, Scollay and New Vocations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Purse Increase at Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs will increase purses for all non-stakes purses by approximately 10% beginning Dec. 16. The increase will be $1,500 for maiden special weight and allowance races and $1,000 for claiming and starter races.

“Thanks to the efforts of former [Tampa Bay Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association] President Bob Jeffries and the approval of their board, we were able to build a substantial cushion in the purse account before the current meeting,” Tampa Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube said. “Our export [simulcast] business has been strong since racing returned on Nov. 25 and is up 29% to date. We were projecting a 30-35% decrease in on-track wagering on live and simulcast racing to start the meeting and those projections have been correct, but the actions of the Tampa Bay HBPA and the popularity of our signal across the country enable us to feel comfortable raising purses starting next week.”

Through the first six cards since the 2020-2021 meeting resumed, Tampa Bay Downs has averaged $3,719,055 in daily interstate wagering. The total wagering handle on Saturday’s 10-race card was a Cotillion Festival Day record $6,128,282, of which $5,702,369 was through interstate wagering.

The post Purse Increase at Tampa Bay Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

RCI Modifies Model Rules

The Association of Racing Commissioners International has approved amendments to its Model Rules of Racing. Among the amendments are further restrictions on the use of clenbuterol in Thoroughbred contests and additional guidance for regulatory policy affecting ADW wagering on historic racing. The ARCI also amended its Totalizator Standards at the request of AMTOTE to provide some redundancy in the stop betting function utilized by racing officials to close betting upon the start of a race.

The full updated version of the Model Rules document containing these revisions, as well as a new rule pertaining to use of the riding crop in flat races, will be published by Dec. 20.

To view the Model Rules adopted Dec. 4, click here.

The post RCI Modifies Model Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post