Tag: The Biz

The following update was released Monday by HIWU Executive Director Ben Mosier:

The development and implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program represented a groundbreaking moment for Thoroughbred racing in the United States. For the first time, all industry participants across the country could look forward to working under the same set of medication rules and feel confident in the consistency of their application regardless of jurisdiction. The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) launched the ADMC Program on May 22, 2023.

I am pleased to say that HIWU is gaining traction in the industry as stakeholders become comfortable with our processes and staff. We acknowledge the creation of HISA and HIWU were significant changes for the sport – a sport that has been around for centuries – but fortunately, my team and I have been able to establish strong relationships with industry stakeholders at racetracks, state racing commissions, and laboratories across the country. Building on the progress that has been made is important to us, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of you.

In regard to industry partners, I must also recognize Alan Foreman, who has already been an outstanding ombudsman for HISA's ADMC rules after less than two months in the role. His commitment to assisting horsemen while offering HISA and HIWU constructive feedback has been a huge asset for both my team and racing participants across the sport. HIWU has benefited from his passions for equine welfare, maintaining the integrity of Thoroughbred racing, and the rights of horsemen. We are greatly appreciative of his service.

As part of HIWU's commitment to transparency, the industry can look forward to the release of an annual report in the first quarter of 2024 that will detail HIWU's activities and testing data in 2023. Additionally, HIWU will issue quarterly reports with testing statistics beginning next year. All of this information will be published on the HIWU website so it can be viewed by anyone at any time. In the meantime, we continue to make updates to our Public Disclosures pages and the case information we share.

After five months of operations, the HIWU team can report the following metrics in relation to our impact on the sport: 

• Since the launch on May 22, nearly 38,000 horses have been tested by HIWU-certified sample collection personnel.
• The HIWU Operations team has certified more than 500 individuals to serve as sample collection personnel through 64 training sessions and supportive visits. All sample collection personnel are trained in HISA-compliant policies and the paperless data collection system developed by HIWU, which enhances the integrity of the sample collection process and chain of custody procedures.
• The six accredited laboratories utilized by HIWU have reported the presence of more than 30 unique Prohibited Substances, including a dozen Banned Substances.
• There are currently 10 reported cases being adjudicated for alleged non-presence violations, including the possession of Banned Substances and the use of Prohibited Methods (e.g., use of intra-articular injections within 14 days of a race).
• HIWU has received positive samples for 23 substances included under the Atypical Findings Policy. Of those findings, 15 have already been resolved, with 14 deemed negative, and one pursued as an Adverse Analytical Finding (i.e., positive test). The remaining eight cases are pending.
• ADMC cases have been resolved in an average of 62 days from the date the alleged violation occurred (e.g., date of sample collection).
• The HIWU Investigations Unit has overseen more than 100 barn searches nationwide. These searches have resulted in 10 possession cases for Banned Substances.
• HIWU's anonymous whistleblower platforms have received more than 70 tips.
• HIWU's science team has conducted educational sessions via in-person meetings or Zoom to horsemen at more than 30 racetracks and training centers.
• The HIWU website contains more than 40 educational resources, including fact sheets and videos.
• The HIWU app, which features a comprehensive database of all Prohibited Substances, has been downloaded nearly 2,000 times in 13 countries.

While I am extremely proud of my team thus far, our work is just beginning. I need only to look forward to this week for our largest assignment to date: administering the ADMC Program for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

To all those in the Thoroughbred industry who have worked with us to get this Program off the ground and running, from horsemen, veterinarians, and stewards, to test barn staff, state racing commission personnel, and laboratory directors: thank you. My team and I appreciate your collaboration, perspectives, input, and willingness to make this Program the best it can be.

The post HIWU’s Ben Mosier: ADMC Violations Are Resolved In Average Of 62 Days appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland on Saturday closed a successful 2023 Fall Meet, which featured spectacular Thoroughbred racing from the sport's best horses and riders, enthusiastic crowds, idyllic fall weather, and a slate of popular special events to support the industry and community. All combined to produce total all-sources wagering on Keeneland racing of $201.7 million, the second-highest Fall Meet handle and fourth-highest handle in Keeneland history.

“The Fall Meet was terrific from start to finish, and we are thankful for the strong support of our participants, fans and community,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “It was rewarding to see crowds line the rail through the very last race every day, savoring all the excitement this season had to offer. And with the recent announcement of our new Paddock Building and Saddling Paddock enhancements, we look forward to offering even more unique experiences for our guests in the future.”

All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) for the 17-day Fall Meet, held Oct. 6-28, totaled $201,739,442, down 3.43% from last year's Fall Meet record of $208,907,655.

On-track wagering of $16,266,007 marked an increase of 5.96% from last year's $15,351,232.

Average daily purses of $1,135,604 during the Fall Meet attracted full, competitive fields that averaged 9.1 starters per race.

The post Keeneland Fall Meet Concludes With Fourth Highest Handle In Track History appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Following the retirement of its long time President Barry Pearl, the Jockeys and Jeans committee has elected new officers, refilled vacant task assignments, and is planning its Eighth Stallion Season Sale and negotiating with several tracks on hosting its 10th annual fundraising event. 

Their last event, at Caesars Palace on June 24th raised a group record of $427,000, bringing the total raised for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund to $3.6 million. 

The all-volunteer group made Corey Johnsen its newest Ambassador. A long-time donor, track owner and manager, and now a thoroughbred owner and breeder will provide advice to the committee and continue to advocate for the cause of aiding disabled former jockeys. He joins Brian Elmore, Executive Director of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association and Joe Morris, Vice President of Racing for Caesars Entertainment, as the three non-jockey Ambassadors. Randy Sampson, CEO and Board Chairman of Canterbury Park, serves as a committee member.

The committee elected Vice President Dr. Eddie Donnally as Interim President. He was one of five former jockeys who founded the group, and he named it Jockeys and Jeans. During the fall of 2014, former jockey and committee member Darrell Brown called Donnally suggesting a jockeys' reunion at Tampa Bay Downs. Donnally decided to turn it into a fundraiser for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and called friend and former jockey Barry Pearl who immediately joined the group. 

“I served as president the first year and it became obvious, Pearl possessed far superior organizational and sales skills than I, so I suggested the committee make him president. Calling him was easily one of the best decisions of my life and we can't thank him enough for his nine years of leadership and the thousands of hours he donated.” 

Donnally said Pearl left the committee with an extensively detailed database and is consistently available for consultation. Donnally, 80, holds a Doctorate in Ministry, is a former Eclipse Award winning horseracing writer for the Dallas Morning News, the author of three books and still works part-time as a Hospital Chaplain in New Orleans. As before, he is looking for his replacement as president.

“I am persistent and have had passion for this cause since we started,” he said. “I've arranged my life to devote far more time and effort. But I am just one member of an experienced and dedicated crew, and each feels strongly we should remain intact and continue our work. Until my replacement is found, I am dedicated to our success.”  

Maureen Brown, Darrell Brown's wife, becomes Vice President of Operations and will assist with the day-to-day tasks. Kenny Katz who along with Harvey Kacer oversaw the event's auctions and is with Hall of Fame and other top jockeys when they sign elite memorabilia, becomes the head of Relationships with Hall of Fame Riders. He replaces Hall of Fame rider Sandy Hawley and his wife and former jockey Karou Tsuchiya who retired. They brought an average of 14 Hall of Fame Jockeys to each fundraising event and have become official Ambassadors. “We have long advocated for Jockeys and Jeans and PDJF,” said Hawley. “No matter where we go, we'll continue to do the same. We are here for the long term and as former jockeys we fortunately survived intact. We will always help those who did not.”                                        

Katz and Kacer have traversed the nation producing elite signed memorabilia, which this year sold for some $100,000 at various PDJF fundraisers. Kacer will attend this year's Breeders Cup to secure memorabilia signatures. Katz will also hold his fourth Bobble Head sale, this time of Jose Ortez, at Gulfstream Park the week of February 14, 2024. 

“The PDJF has enjoyed working with the Jockeys and Jeans Committee since the first event at Tampa Bay Downs and watching the efforts of this group grow,” said PDJF Director Nancy LaSala. “The success over the years is driven by the passion and support of so many who donate their time and talent to celebrate and raise awareness of permanently disabled jockeys.  If not for our sport's great racing fans, donors, sponsors and our jockey racing legends, this success would not be possible. A special thanks to Barry Pearl for his many contributions and leadership of the committee over the years, we wish him and his wife, Dee all the best as they enjoy their retirement with family, friends, Florida sunshine, and a glass of wine.”     

For more information contact Eddie Donnally at (818-653-3711) edjockeysandjeans@gmail.com or Maureen Brown (352 318-2118 maureen.jockeyandjeans@gmail.com

The post Jockeys And Jeans Elects New Officers; Dr. Eddie Donnally Named Interim President appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Entrepreneur and horse owner Mike Repole said on Thursday he has started a new organization, the National Thoroughbred Alliance, and hired Pat Cummings as its executive director.

Citing what he said was widespread frustration through all levels of the industry, Repole said he wants the new organization to represent owners, breeders, trainers, horseplayers, fans, and racetracks, among others.

“All I want to do is help execute a vision and strategy that everybody wants,” he said during a conference call with several horse racing media members.

Repole provided few details, saying he was self-funding the organization and planned to hire several others in the coming months. Cummings, who has served as executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation since its launch in 2018, will be charged with “laying the foundation” for the Alliance, Repole said.

Repole credited Lexington advertising executive Fred Pope as an inspiration in forming the group and naming it with the same initials as the owner-driven National Thoroughbred Association that Pope founded in 1996. Pope had “amazing vision – what we need today,” Repole said.

The National Thoroughbred Association, which had the backing of more than 100 owners, each of whom put up $50,000 in seed money, failed to accomplish its mission of setting up a horse racing “major league” that would pool simulcasting and television rights of weekend racing at major tracks, create a central office and execute a marketing and branding strategy.

With the encouragement of the late Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club, the NTA was folded into an interim organization called the Thoroughbred Industry Alliance that eventually became the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The Thoroughbred Industry Alliance and the NTRA represented many of the various constituency groups that Repole wants his new organization to include. At the outset, the NTRA was designed as a “league office” but its membership and influence waned over the years and it has settled into a dual role as an advocate for the industry in Washington, D.C., and operator of handicapping tournaments.

Racing currently has no vision and no strategy, Repole said, in part because of the lack of unity to promote a single brand. He said the industry has gone from “growth, to stagnant, to massive decline” in recent decades and that some prominent owners are leaving because “they are just not happy with the game.”

The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, funded by horse owner Craig Bernick, will not replace Cummings, according to Daily Racing Form. The TIF has been an important advocate for horseplayers through the publication of numerous white papers highlighting problematic issues. Its most successful effort was to bring penny breakage to pari-mutuel wagering in Kentucky.

The post Repole Hopes His Newly Created ‘Alliance’ Will Unite Thoroughbred Racing Behind New Vision, Strategy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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