Tag: The Biz

The following statement was issued by 1/ST Racing, which operates Pimlico Race Course, regarding the fatal breakdown of favorite Havnameltdown in the Chick Lang (G3) on the Preakness (G1) undercard Saturday at the Baltimore track:

During the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, the number one horse, Havnameltdown, sustained an injury and immediately received on-track medical attention from an expert team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Dionne Benson. During the subsequent evaluation, she observed a non-operable left fore fetlock injury. Due to the severity and prognosis of the injury, Dr. Benson and her counterparts made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Havnameltdown.

Havnameltdown's jockey, Luis Saez, is stable and conscious. He was transported to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore for further evaluation.

The loss of Havnameltdown will be felt across the entire horse racing community, and everyone at the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing extends our heartfelt condolences to Havnameltdown's connections.

Over the past year, 1/ST Racing has worked tirelessly to implement numerous industry-leading reforms, including additional medication restrictions and new operational requirements, to enhance the existing health and safety measures with the intent of providing the safest racing environment possible. In addition, 1/ST racing and the Maryland Jockey Club observe the most stringent medication practices and restrictions, pre- and post-race testing protocols, equine security and surveillance measures, veterinary exams, injury management protocols and racing surface testing.

These measures are re-evaluated and expanded every year to ensure our athletes are fit to compete safely in any race associated with 1/ST Racing.

The post 1 ST/Racing Issues Statement On Havnameltdown’s Fatal Breakdown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the independent enforcement agency of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, reminds industry stakeholders that the ADMC Program is set to go into effect on May 22, 2023. The Program initially took effect on March 27 of this year before being paused on March 31.

As was the case on the date of the initial implementation on March 27, industry participants should be aware of the following key changes that will apply nationwide as of May 22:

• All Covered Horses will be subject to the ADMC Program regulations, which includes adherence to the Prohibited List of Banned and Controlled Medication Substances/Methods. Banned Substances are prohibited from being used, possessed, administered, or trafficked in relation to a Covered Horse at any time. Controlled Medications are permitted for use or administration in a Covered Horse, except in close proximity to a race or Vets' List workout. As specified in the Prohibited List, certain Controlled Medications, i.e., corticosteroids, NSAIDs, analgesics, and local anesthetics, are regulated in samples collected following routine official timed workouts.
• Lasix will be permitted in all races, except for 2-year-old races and stakes races. Lasix will also be permitted, regardless of age or class of competition, during training, including Vets' List workouts.
• All test selection will be overseen by HIWU using an intelligence-based strategy. While HIWU has the ultimate discretion to select Covered Horses for testing, intelligence from “boots-on-the-ground” industry participants, including state stewards and veterinarians, and continued cooperation with state racing commissions and laboratory/scientific partners will also inform the test selection process.
• All sample collection personnel, including test barn staff, will have been trained by HIWU staff on ADMC Program-compliant procedures. Sample collection processes will be facilitated by a HIWU app that will serve as a paperless documentation system. The app will be prepopulated with relevant race-day and Covered Horse information from InCompass and the HISA Portal.
• All laboratories utilized under the ADMC Program are accredited by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), pending the implementation of the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory accreditation, and will be held to the same performance specifications.
• All laboratory results for samples collected under the ADMC Program will be reported to, and processed by, HIWU. The standard turnaround time for receiving Post-Race test results will be 10 business days after the laboratory's receipt of samples, and the standard turnaround for Vets' List clearance testing will be five business days after the laboratory's receipt of samples.
• HIWU will be responsible for distributing notices of Adverse Analytical Findings (i.e., positive test results) to Responsible Persons (e.g., trainers) under the ADMC Program and filing charges of ADMC Program violations against Responsible Persons.
• Anti-Doping Rule Violations will be heard by members of the Arbitral Body, which is administered by JAMS, an independent third party. Controlled Medication Rule Violations will be heard by the Internal Adjudication Panel, whose members are selected by HISA and HIWU.

Industry participants should also note that national anonymous whistleblower platforms will relaunch on May 22. HIWU has partnered with RealResponse, the leading provider of safe and secure reporting platforms for athletes, teams, and organizations. Upon relaunch, the whistleblower platforms will accept information regarding violations of both the ADMC and Racetrack Safety Programs through telephone, text message, or email.

Examples of information that can be safely and anonymously submitted include names of Covered Horses, trainers, and owners that may be involved in a rule violation. Individuals will have the option to voluntarily provide their contact information so that the HIWU Investigations Unit can follow up, if needed. The whistleblower phone numbers, text message information, and email address will be available on the HIWU and HISA websites.

Furthermore, the deadline for bisphosphonates screenings has been extended in response to the new implementation date. More information about the use of bisphosphonates under the ADMC Program can be found here.

“Following a successful rollout of the ADMC Program on March 27, the HIWU team is excited to relaunch on May 22 and help promote safety and integrity during a critical time for Thoroughbred racing,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “Since April, HIWU has focused on training sample collection personnel at tracks that have yet to operate under the ADMC Program and providing refreshers where necessary. We have also fine-tuned processes based on feedback we received from the first week, which will enable even more effective operations going forward.”

Once the ADMC Program takes effect, the following states and/or racetracks with live racing in May will continue to provide sample collection personnel services by utilizing their current staff, who have been trained and certified by HIWU. Voluntary agreements have either been signed or will be signed before the first day of racing under the new ADMC Rules with the following entities:

• California Horse Racing Board
• Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission
• Emerald Downs (Washington)
• Florida Gaming Control Commission, in cooperation with Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs
• Indiana Horse Racing Commission
• Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission
• Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
• Maryland Racing Commission
• Minnesota Racing Commission
• New Mexico Racing Commission, in cooperation with Ruidoso Downs
• New York Racing Association (except Post-Race testing)
• Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission

For the following states and/or racetracks, HIWU has either contracted directly with existing personnel or has hired its own sample collection personnel to implement the ADMC Program. There is, therefore, no signed voluntary agreement with the following entities:

• Arizona Department of Gaming (Division of Racing)
• Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack
• Illinois Racing Board
• New Jersey Racing Commission
• New York Gaming Commission
• Ohio State Racing Commission

Laboratories must be accredited by the RMTC to be eligible to conduct testing as part of HISA's ADMC Program and must meet additional criteria determined by HIWU. HIWU has entered into contracts with the following laboratories to analyze samples collected under the ADMC Program:

• Analytical Toxicology Laboratory (Ohio Department of Agriculture)
• Animal Forensic Toxicology Laboratory (University of Illinois-Chicago)
• Industrial Laboratories
• Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (University of California, Davis)
• Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory
• University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

Lab accreditation will eventually transition to the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory standards, which will not take effect before 2024.

About the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) was established in 2022 by Drug Free Sport International to administer the rules and enforcement mechanisms of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The ADMC Program establishes a centralized testing and results management process that applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across all American Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions that HISA governs. HIWU oversees testing, educating stakeholders on the program, laboratory accreditation, investigation of potential violations, and prosecution of any such violations. For more information, please visit hiwu.org.

The post HISA Anti-Doping And Medication Control Program Will Relaunch May 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced a number of unique incentives for owners and trainers at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, slated for Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10, at Belmont Park.

The lucrative festival is highlighted by the 155th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets – the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown on June 10 – and encompasses 16 stakes races worth a combined $7.65 million. The June 10 Belmont Stakes card will feature nine graded events, including three Breeders' Cup qualifying races as part of the “Win and You're In” series.

During the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, horses placed fourth through last in stakes races and horses placed second through last in non-stake races, will receive a Starter Bonus as set forth below, for each eligible starter as part of the “Starter Bonus Program.”

Additionally, trainers whose horses start in any race during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (all races on Thursday, June 8th; Friday, June 9th; or Saturday, June 10th) that are not stabled at a NYRA track (Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course), will receive a shipping bonus of $1,000 to be credited to the owner's account towards shipping expenses.

On Thursday, June 8, bonuses for owners of horses in the Grade 2 Wonder Again and Listed Jersey Girl will be awarded to the fourth-place [$5,000], fifth-place [$3,000] and sixth-place [$2,000] finishers, as well as the seventh through last-place finishers, who will each receive $1,000. Trainers of the fourth through last-place finishers will each receive $1,000. Additionally, the second through last-place finishers of the seven non-stakes races tentatively scheduled for the Thursday card will be awarded $1,000 to the owner and $500 to the trainer.

On Friday, June 9, bonuses for owners of horses in the Grade 1 New York, Grade 1 Acorn presented by Great Jones Distilling Co., Grade 1 Just a Game, Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup and Grade 3 Intercontinental will be awarded to the fourth-place [$5,000], fifth-place [$3,000] and sixth-place [$2,000] finishers, as well as the seventh through last-place finishers, who will each receive $1,000. Trainers of the fourth through last-place finishers will each receive $1,000. Additionally, the second through last-place finishers of the six non-stakes races tentatively scheduled for the Friday card will be awarded $1,000 to the owner and $500 to the trainer.

On Saturday, June 10, bonuses for owners of horses in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, Grade 1 Jaipur, Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun, Grade 2 True North, Grade 2 Brooklyn and Grade 3 Poker will be awarded to the fourth-place [$5,000], fifth-place [$3,000] and sixth-place [$2,000] finishers, as well as the seventh through last-place finishers, who will each receive $1,000. Trainers of the fourth through last-place finishers will each receive $1,000. Additionally, the second through last-place finishers of the four non-stakes races tentatively scheduled for the Saturday card will be awarded $1,000 to the owner and $500 to the trainer.

Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Day 1: Thursday June 8, 2023

RACE PLACE BONUS TO OWNER BONUS TO TRAINER Wonder Again(GII) Jersey Girl (Listed) 4th Place 5th Place 6th Place 7th Place and down $5,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 ALL Non-Stakes Races 2nd through last place $1,000 $500

Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Day 2: Friday June 9, 2023

RACE PLACE BONUS TO OWNER BONUS TO TRAINER New York (G1); Acorn (GI); Just a Game (G1); Belmont Gold Cup (GII); Intercontinental(GIII) 4th Place 5th Place 6th Place 7th Place and down $5,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 ALL Non-Stakes Races 2nd through last place $1,000 $500

Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Day 3: Saturday June 10, 2023

RACE PLACE BONUS TO OWNER BONUS TO TRAINER Belmont Stakes (GI); Manhattan(GI); Metropolitan H.(GI); Ogden Phipps (GI); Jaipur (GI); Woody Stephens (GI); True North (GII); Brooklyn (GII); Poker (GIII) 4th Place 5th Place 6th Place 7th Place and down $5,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 ALL Non-Stakes Races 2nd through last place $1,000 $500

Requirements for both bonuses include that the horse must be declared an official starter. Horses that are placed on a poor performance and/or veterinarian list will not be eligible for the bonus.

An American tradition inaugurated in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack and moved in 1905 to its now familiar home at Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes has provided fans with some of the most exciting moments in sports history. From Secretariat's spellbinding 31-length victory in 1973 to American Pharoah successfully ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015, the Belmont Stakes is engrained in the consciousness of sports fans around the world.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown triumph, which NYRA will commemorate throughout the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

For additional information on the 2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com.

About the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) holds the exclusive franchise to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State's horse racing economy, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual statewide impact.

The post New Incentive Programs Available For Owners, Trainers At Belmont Stakes Racing Festival appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

A last-ditch attempt by the National HBPA and others to stop the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program from re-launching May 22 was denied by a federal judge in Texas on Wednesday.

Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who twice previously ruled that the 2020 law creating HISA is constitutional, denied a motion for an injunction sought by the National HBPA and other plaintiffs as part of a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division.

“As detailed in its 55-page Memorandum Opinion and Order, the plaintiffs have not established a likelihood of success on the merits,” Hendrix wrote in Wednesday's order. “The plaintiffs misunderstand the correct standard for a district court considering a motion for injunction pending appeal.”

The plaintiffs in the suit won an appeal from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals last November after Hendrix originally found the federal law creating HISA constitutional. In its order, the Fifth Circuit remanded the case back to Hendrix, who ruled on May 4 that an amendment added to the HISA law in December satisfied the Fifth Circuit's concerns that the Federal Trade Commission was playing a subservient role to a private entity, HISA.

The plaintiffs have appealed that May 4 order to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals once again.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, asked to review a separate unsuccessful lawsuit from HISA opponents, similarly found that the amendment giving greater authority to the FTC answered those concerns expressed by the Fifth Circuit.

HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program launched in late March, then a few days later was delayed until May 1 by a court order that found the FTC did not adhere to administrative procedures providing for a public comment period before approving regulations. The FTC then delayed the program's launch from May 1 to May 22 in order for the first two legs of the Triple Crown to be run under existing state regulatory rules.

“The resumption of the ADMC program is not only an important milestone in our mission to strengthen the integrity and safety of Thoroughbred racing but also a necessary step towards our collective goal of always prioritizing horse welfare,” Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA, said in a newsletter sent to racing participants on Thursday.

“After the program's successful initial rollout in late March, I am confident that the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) is prepared to implement the modernized collection protocols, the centralized and efficient results management system and the intelligence-driven investigatory oversight racing deserves,” Lazarus continued. “Under the ADMC program, both Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication alleged rule violations will be made public within weeks of being detected in the lab, introducing heightened transparency and accountability to the results management and adjudication process. HISA is grateful to partner with HIWU under the leadership of executive director Ben Mosier in this critical undertaking.”

The post Judge Denies Injunction To HISA Opponents; Anti-Doping Program To Begin May 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post