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Arizona Racing Commission Drops Cases Against Trainer, Jockey In Juror Case

The Arizona Department of Gaming's Racing Division has reached settlement agreements with trainer Juan Pablo Silva and jockey Fausto Rodrigues Da Silva in the matter of Juror, who was pulled up in the fourth race at Turf Paradise on March 10, 2022.

Settlement agreements in both cases, signed June 13, state there is “insufficient evidence” to substantiate a violation of state racing rules and statutes. Both licensees have had their suspensions and fines dropped and have agreed to waive the right to further appeals or judicial remedies.

Juror was entered into a claiming race on March 10 for a $3,500 tag, having last raced for a $30,000 tag on Feb. 1. Da Silva pulled the 1-20 favorite up a few jumps out of the starting gate and later told the stewards he thought the horse had banged his shoulder going into the gate and that he was not comfortable with the way the horse was traveling as they broke.

Da Silva was given a 30-day suspension and stewards wrote a ruling citing Da Silva for “conduct detrimental to racing” and “for his failure to take his mount … to the track vet for an examination, after he suspected that the horse might have an injury.”

Trainer Silva was given a 180-day suspension, and stewards wrote in his original ruling that they believed he ran the horse “knowing he was sore and unfit to race.”

Juror was claimed from that race and because Arizona does not have a voided claim rule, he became the property of his new owners as soon as the gate opened, despite pulling up lame.

Juror was later placed on the veterinarian's list for a lameness in his left front leg. He was examined prior to the race but did not allow state veterinarian Dr. Susan Gale to palpate and fully flex his left front. He has since been retired and placed in a home for a second career.

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Texas Racing Commission Plans To Cease Exporting Simulcast Signal In Order To Evade HISA Regulation

Amy Cook, executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, issued a letter to “All Occupational and Business Licensees” on Monday, June 13, stating that the import and export of pari-mutuel simulcast signals will not be conducted at Texas racetracks if the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority asserts control over regulatory supervision on July 1, 2022, as scheduled.

“We are denying HISA jurisdiction by disapproving signal export for all 'covered horse races,'” Cook told horseracing.net. “Our goal is the prevention of regulatory chaos, and the cost will be the loss of revenue in that export signal … but you cannot put a price on certainty.”

Elimination of in-state wagering on imported signals and out-of-state wagering on Texas tracks will deliver a severe economic blow to the business. This is especially true in Texas, where advance deposit wagering is illegal and all legal bets must be made at a racetrack in-state. Upwards of 90% of handle comes via simulcasting, industry studies have shown.

Cook's letter explains that the commission will allow pari-mutuel wagering on in-state races only: “Since the Texas Racing Commission regulates all aspects of Texas horse racing, including, in particular, pari-mutuel and simulcast wagering in Texas, the application of federal law pursuant to HISA in any aspect of horse racing regulation for a particular race or meet will necessarily preclude the Texas Racing Commission from full compliance with the Texas Racing Act and will, therefore, necessitate that no such affected race shall be allowed to conduct on-site pari-mutuel wagering or provide simulcast export signal. Any such request will, of necessity, be denied by the Texas Racing Commission.”

HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus met with Cook last week after an exchange of letters, but it appears little was accomplished.

“We told Lisa that there should be a delay in implementation for 18-24 months because it was so unclear what they will do on July 1st,” Cook told horseracing.net. “It is the best decision for my state, and even though I appreciated her coming to visit, Texans deserve clarity from their regulatory agency.”

Ellis Park Celebrates Centennial Meeting In 2022

Kentucky's summer home for racing will celebrate 100 years in 2022. The 23-day meet at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., will begin July 8 and conclude August 28, with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday. First post time will be 12:50 PM ET.

The 8-week schedule includes an ample amount of both dirt and turf racing for horses of all levels, with 14 stakes races indicated in the initial condition book.

“One of the things that makes this track so special is our unique location, which makes our racing surface one of the most forgiving there is. We've seen Ellis Park, year after year, provide a starting point for promising 2-year-olds, most recently the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike,” said Ellis Park General Manager, Jeff Inman.

Ellis Park, originally Dade Park, was built in 1922 by the Green River Jockey Club. The 1 1/8 mile track opened the gates for the first Thoroughbred meet on November 18, 1922. In 1954, the track was renamed to honor Dade Park's longtime owner, James C. Ellis. Several famous horses have raced over the track at Ellis Park, including Kentucky Derby winners Behave Yourself (1921), Black Gold (1924), Bubbling Over (1926), Burgoo King (1932) and Brokers Tip (1933).

More recently, the Ellis Park graduate list has grown to include the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up and leading sire, Not This Time, and 2021 Horse of the Year, Knicks Go, trained by 2020 and 2021 Ellis Park leading trainer, Brad Cox.

“In addition to the horses, what I hear most about our track is the impact it has on racing fans who came here with their grandparents, and their children, and eventually their grandchildren. It's the sense of family that truly makes Ellis Park unique. In that spirit, we wanted this historic milestone to celebrate that feeling of family and community,” Inman noted.

This year, loyal guests of Ellis Park can enjoy reduced ticket prices in every venue area, including the Sky Theater, Clubhouse and Grandstand Boxes.

Inman added, “Field & Main Bank is sponsoring our annual Family Fun Day this year. And we're bringing back our famous Weiner Dog Races, an event I am asked about every time I am in public.”

Field & Main Family Day on July 9, will feature free Family Day t-shirts for the first 50 kids, face painting, a jockey autograph signing with posters, and a 100-Year Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2 PM. For enthusiasts of the Ellis Park Weiner Dog Races, qualifying heats will be held on July 16 before the finals on August 27. Registration is now live at https://ellisparkracing.com/racing/2022-wiener-dog-races

Heroes Weekend will be July 22-24 and include First Responder Day, Veterans and Humana Golden Gamesters Day. College Day, sponsored by the Kentucky HBPA, will host giveaways for college students on July 31. On August 20, Charity Day, guests can bring a can of food for the Tri-State Food Bank, or other local charity, in exchange for a free program. Tickets can be purchased on-site in the Admissions office during regular business hours or online at https://ellisparkracing.com/admissions

Visitors can get a close-up experience with the horses and horsemen with the Sunrise Trackside Program. Enjoy breakfast and view the morning workouts every Friday from 6 – 9 AM for the duration of the meet. The Ellis Park gift shop will once again offer the much-beloved “Ellis Relish”.

“We wanted to honor our own Ellis family, as well. This year, we lost three icons whose impact on racing cannot be measured. Cowboy Jones, Jeff Hall, and Don Haas will all be honored for their contributions. Each of them helped Ellis Park to get to this historic point and they will not be forgotten,” said Inman.

As tribute, the race schedule will include a Memorial Race for Don Hass, The $75,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes (6.5 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up) and The $60,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Overnight Stakes (1 mile for 3-year-olds and up).

Over last 100 years, the 204-acre facility, located in Henderson, KY, has endured monumental flooding, barn fires and tornado damage. But through it all, Ellis Park has remained steadfast, a fixture in both the racing community and the hearts of fans. The centennial race meet will celebrate the storied history of the track, a continuation of commitment to racing, and signify an exciting new era at Ellis Park.

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Track Supers Field Day: Expect More Record-Keeping Under HISA

More than 100 industry professionals attended the first day of meetings and panels at Track Superintendent Field Day at Gulfstream Park. The event brings together track supers and staff to discuss best practices and share ideas about track maintenance and safety.

Roy Smith, track superintendent at Horseshoe Indianapolis and founder of the event, joined Michael Depew of Pro Turf Environmental and Sports Turf Surfaces to discuss how the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) will affect track supers.

“It's going to change the industry when the federal government comes in to regulate racing,” said Smith about the implementation of HISA on July 1. “There's going to be more record keeping and new record keeping.”

HISA rules will require a wide range of data to be collected and submitted to the Authority, including racetrack design records, racing and training surface maintenance records, surface material tests and numerous daily tests.

There are still many unanswered questions about how these records are to be formatted and submitted, but Smith said it was clear that the new rules will require more time from track supers and staff.

That lead to discussion about staffing challenges, with most in attendance reporting difficulty finding enough staff. Some have had success finding new employees through social media, and others have benefitted from using staff from other departments, like those who work the starting gate.

Depew also spoke about approaches for assessing and monitoring racing surfaces with John Mascaro of Turf-Tec International.

Also on Monday, Dr. John “Trey” Rogers of Michigan State University talked about how to grow the ideal turf for racing, including turfgrass selection, establishment and re-establishment techniques and how to manage turf for top performance.

Other presentations covered equipment trends from New Holland and track layout and design.

“This is probably going to the highest attended event we've ever had,” said Steve Andersen of Equine Equipment, the title sponsor of the event. “It's great to see the commitment that so many racetracks have made to the safety of our sport by sending their track supers and staff to this important gathering.”

Track Superintendent Field Day wraps up on Tuesday with another full day with topics including on-track emergency response, working with racetrack and regulatory veterinarians to improve horse safety, turf irrigation design and a second panel on HISA. There will also be roundtable discussions for jockeys and track supers.

More information about Track Superintendent Field Day is available at www.tracksupers.com.

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