Tag: The Biz

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's 2021 Legislative Annual Report is now available and can be accessed on the association's website by clicking here.

The report reviews the NTRA's federal legislative activities as well as the fundraising initiatives that support those activities and includes:

• A summary of the major legislative issues for Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the first half of the 2022/2023 Congress, including the latest on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act; three-year depreciation of racehorses; immigration, sports betting, and COVID-related legislation;
• A listing of 2021 contributors to the NTRA Legislative Action Campaign via the NTRA 1/4% Check-off Program;
• Thoroughbred sales company calendars, including Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton Co., Ocala Breeders' Sales, Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association;
• NTRA federal legislative strategy;
• NTRA fundraising programs; and
• NTRA member discount information from partners John Deere, Big Ass Fans, Sherwin Williams, ODP, and Farmers Insurance.

“Thank you to all supporters of the NTRA's federal advocacy efforts in 2021 through the NTRA's Legislative Action Campaign (LAC) fundraising initiatives,” said Joe Bacigalupo, NTRA vice president of membership development. “It was a year marked by a return to a more normal racing and sales schedule, following the many disruptions of 2020. NTRA supporters responded to the resulting improved economics within the industry by contributing at a high level to the NTRA ¼% Check-off Program and related fundraising programs that support the NTRA's federal legislative team. For the NTRA's fiscal year ending on March 31, 2022, fundraising through the LAC improved by 31% versus the prior fiscal year. Widespread industry support like this is paramount to the team's success.

“Last year also was a year of transition for the NTRA, as longtime CEO Alex Waldrop announced his retirement and former U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney was named as his successor. Changes of this magnitude are filled with great opportunities, including the addition of a permanent NTRA office in Washington, D.C.”

The post NTRA Releases 2021 Legislative Annual Report appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In an effort to support families of fallen or disabled American military veterans, Santa Anita will host a charity poker tournament following the races Sunday at 5:45 p.m. (PT) to benefit the world-renowned “Folds of Honor” Foundation.

Folds of Honor helps bridge a financial gap facing more than one million dependents adversely affected by war.

The tournament will be staged near the top of the stretch in Santa Anita's Baldwin Terrace Conference Room on the second floor of the Grandstand. Players will make a $30 charitable donation and be treated to a full night of no-limit Texas Hold 'Em as well as a day at the races in Santa Anita's Stretch Run Suites.

Santa Anita's first Folds of Honor tourney last October raised more than $50,000. Track officials hope to build on that success.

“We had great participation from horsemen and fans this past October and we're hoping to do even better this Sunday,” said Santa Anita Vice President and General Manager Nate Newby. “Memorial Day weekend is a time for reverence for millions of veterans and we're proud to be able to honor them and their families.”

The $30 donation enables fans to receive an iconic “The Shoe Wants You” T-shirt, the image of which was originally used on a color poster honoring legendary Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker more than 50 years ago.

In addition to the T-shirt, the $30 donation also includes admission, program, General Parking and a Challenge Coin featuring the Folds of Honor Foundation and Santa Anita Park. The Coin may also be purchased separately for a $10 donation.

“The folded flag is to honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom,” said Folds of Honor Senior VP and former Tehran hostage POW Rocky Sickmann. “It inspires us to help equip and educate their loved ones in need of our support.

“Thank you to Santa Anita Park for embracing the call by honoring their sacrifice.”

For more tournament info, visit santaanita.com/poker.

The post Santa Anita To Host Folds Of Honor Poker Tournament To Benefit Disabled Veterans appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Breeders' Cup has announced a new incentive-based participation bonus program for horsemen pointing runners to the dirt races in the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships. The 12-race program, titled the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen, is comprised of existing graded stakes races scheduled from May through October at six U.S. tracks.

The Dirt Dozen program will award bonus credits, funded by the Breeders' Cup, for first through third-place finishes, for horsemen to use for entry fees in one of six Grade 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships dirt races: $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

In Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen races within the $2 million Breeders' Cup race divisions, the bonus tier is allocated at $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $7,500 for a third-place finish. In Dirt Dozen races in the $1 million Breeders' Cup race divisions, the bonus tier will award $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second, and $3,750 for a third-place finish.

The Dirt Dozen program began on May 7 with the Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) at Churchill Downs. The first three finishers in the race earned a credit earmarked toward entry fees for a potential start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) or for another Breeders' Cup World Championships race, based on eligibility. Juddmonte's Obligatory earned a $15,000 credit for first, Four Graces received a $7,500 credit for second, and Just One Time earned a $3,750 credit for third place. The program continues July 2 with the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, and the 6-furlong Smile Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park, for 3-year-olds and up.

“In our continuing efforts to support horsemen, the new Dirt Dozen program is an innovative way to provide credits which can be put toward entry fees for runners to compete in the dirt races of the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “We look forward to connections taking advantage of the incentives of the Dirt Dozen program and seeing them at Keeneland this November.”

The Dirt Dozen races by division are listed below:

Division	Date	Race	Track	Grade	Distance
Dirt Mile	7/30/2022	San Diego Handicap	Del Mar	Grade II	1 1/16 Miles
Dirt Mile	TBD	Kelso	Belmont	Grade II	1 Mile
Distaff	7/2/2022	Fleur De Lis	Churchill Downs	Grade II	1 1/8 Miles
Distaff	10/2/2022	Zenyatta Stakes	Santa Anita	Grade II	1 1/16 Miles
Filly & Mare Sprint	5/7/2022	Derby City Distaff	Churchill Downs	Grade I	7F
Filly & Mare Sprint	8/28/2022	Rancho Bernardo	Del Mar	Grade III	6 1/2 F
Juvenile	9/11/2022	Del Mar Futurity	Del Mar	Grade I	7F
Juvenile	9/17/2022	Iroquois	Churchill Downs	Grade III	1 1/16 Miles
Juvenile Fillies	9/4/2022	Spinaway	Saratoga	Grade I	7F
Juvenile Fillies	9/17/2022	Pocahontas	Churchill Downs	Grade III	1 1/16 Miles
Sprint	7/2/2022	Smile Handicap	Gulfstream Park	Grade III	6F
Sprint	10/1/2022	Santa Anita Sprint Championship	Santa Anita	Grade II	6F

Further information on rules and participation in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen program is available on the Breeders' Cup Members site.

The post Dirt Dozen: Breeders’ Cup Announces Incentive Program For Dirt Races At 2022 Championships appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A feed contamination issue from 2020 has now been elevated to the British court system, reports the Racing Post.

Feed manufactured by Gain Equine Nutrition was found to have been contaminated by the drug Zilpaterol, requiring 11 horses trained by Aidan O'Brien and his sons, Joseph and Donnacha, to be withdrawn from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and its undercard races at Longchamp that year.

Zilpaterol Hydrochloride is a feed additive used in the United States primarily to promote weight gain in cattle. Zilpaterol isn't harmful to horses, but it isn't approved for use in Europe.

Contaminated molasses was sent from South Africa to Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it was sent to several equine feed companies, including Gain, that used it in their feed production. The molasses, supplied by ED & F Man Ltd, contained Zilpaterol Hydrochloride.

Gain has also filed suit against ED & F Man Ltd.

Gain released a statement on the Friday before the Arc, advising customers of the potential for Zilpaterol contamination. The O'Briens immediately switched feed providers and initial tests performed by LGC laboratory, which is used by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and the British Horseracing Authority did not show positives for the drug.

However, subsequent tests performed by the French lab, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques (LCH), did return positive findings, thus resulting in the withdrawal of the 11 runners. Four of those withdrawn had been intended for the Arc itself, including Mogul, Japan, Sovereign, and Serpentine.

Read more at racingpost.com.

The post Report: Coolmore, O’Briens File Lawsuit Over 2020 Contaminated Feed Debacle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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