With Latest Boost, Emerald Downs Purses To Be Up 20% From 2021

Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., has announced an additional 10% overnight purse increase for the upcoming 2022 meeting—boosting the total increase to 20% from last season. It's the track's third 10% increase since 2019.

The latest purse increase is the result of track management projecting more fans as many popular promotions and events will be returning in 2022. “The more people that get tickets, buy food and beverage, and wager on the live races allows us to offer higher purse supplements,” according to track president Phil Ziegler. “We are excited to welcome back families for a day of exciting horse racing plus the fun promotions we have with Corgi races, 3rd of July Fireworks, and Indian Relay races just to name a few.”

Earlier this year, Emerald Downs announced a new incentive program. Beginning with opening day on May 15, all 3-year-olds and older that ran in any claiming race at least once at any track—including Emerald Downs—since January 1, 2021, receive a $1,000 bonus ($750 to the horse owner, $250 to the trainer) in the horse's first start in any claiming race at Emerald Downs which must occur before July 1.

Other incentives include initial stall bedding all horses arriving prior to starting day, all hot walkers will be free throughout the season, and participation money on any race that has eight or more starters will be increased to $300 (horses finishing sixth through last).

Emerald Downs is owned and operated by the Muckleshoot Tribe. Approximately 20% of all purses for the season are the result of a purse supplement from the Tribe.

Opening day for Emerald Downs' 52-day meeting is Sunday, May 15.

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Seth Fishman Files ‘Multiplicitous’ Motion Requesting Court Merge His Two Convictions

Convicted Feb. 2 on two counts of conspiring to violate adulteration and misbranding laws and the manufacture of PEDS administered to racehorses by corrupt trainers for money and fame, veterinarian Seth Fishman has filed a motion in court requesting that the two convictions be merged into one.

According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, Fishman's motion alleges that the first count is “multiplicitous of” the second, or already contained within.

“Count Two alleged a broad, 18-year conspiracy–lasting from 2002 through 2020–with Lisa Giannelli, Jordan Fishman, Rick Dane Jr. and unnamed others,” the filing reads. “Count One alleged a subsidiary, four-year conspiracy–lasting from 2016 through 2020–with Jorge Navarro, Erica Garcia, Marcos Zulueta, Michael Tannuzzo, Christopher Oakes and unnamed others…

“On this record–even when construed most favorably to the government and drawing all inferences in its favor–the only plausible conclusion is that the lesser conspiracy charged in Count One was 'simply a species' or subset of the greater one alleged in Count Two.”'

Scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, Fishman faces up to 20 years in prison.

Nearly two years ago, New York U.S. Attorney Damian Williams' office charged Fishman, six other veterinarians, 11 trainers, and nine others, identified as PED distributors, with conspiring dope horses in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and the United Arab Emirates.

The investigation began in 2018 and was headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and criminal investigators with the Food and Drug Administration.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Thoroughbred Owner Virtual Conference Kicks Off With Panel On Accounting, Legal, Insurance Considerations

After hosting a successful series in 2021, OwnerView resumed its virtual Thoroughbred Owner Conference series March 8 with a session on the accounting, legal, and insurance side of Thoroughbred ownership. The series is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Tuesday's panel was moderated by Carolyn Conley, and panelists were Davant Latham, Davant Latham Bloodstock & Insurance; Sarah Reeves, attorney and member, Stoll Keenon Ogden; and Jen Shah, director of tax services, Dean Dorton. It was sponsored by Airdrie Stud and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Shah led off the session by reviewing the different government-instituted programs during the pandemic that had expired and how those changes affect horse owners. She also discussed the tax implications of considering horse ownership a business versus a hobby and the factors stated by the IRS that determine that status.

Reeves touched on the legal considerations of horse ownership, from bills of sale and vetting to the point of risk transference. She recommended that owners have a good team of advisors in all areas and that they have insurance and licensing set up before delving into ownership.

“Get everything in writing,” Reeves urged.

Latham summarized the different insurance options for horse owners and emphasized their importance. As a bloodstock agent, Latham recognizes the need to ask his clients about insurance before they bid on horses at public auction.

All three panelists offered important advice based on their backgrounds to those considering or currently involved in Thoroughbred ownership.

“Get a plan. Stay with the plan. See it through,” said Latham. Reeves and Shah both supported this idea while offering their own recommendations.

“It's an extremely risky business and you just want to be aware of that when you go into it, but it's also extremely rewarding,” Reeves said. “Have informed passion.”

“It's a very exciting sport and industry. Don't forget the good business practices that made you successful in the first place,” said Shah.

The next session will be held on April 5 at 2 p.m. ET and will focus on pedigrees and conformation. Sponsored by OBS Sales, it will be moderated by Caton Bredar and will include panelists Phil Hager, Taproot Bloodstock; Chad Schumer, Schumer Bloodstock Agency; Gayle Van Leer, Gayle Van Leer Thoroughbred Services; and Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales, OBS. Six virtual panels are scheduled in 2022, and sessions are recorded for registrants to view at their convenience if they cannot watch live.

This year, OwnerView is also hosting an in-person conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 25-26. Registration information for both the in-person and virtual conferences can be found at ownerview.com/event/conference.

“The virtual sessions enable those who cannot attend our conference in Saratoga to gain meaningful insights into Thoroughbred ownership, and they complement the panels that will be offered at the in-person event,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

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Careless Riding: Jockey Paco Lopez Suspended 14 Days For Fountain Of Youth Ride

Gulfstream Park stewards announced Wednesday that jockey Paco Lopez has been suspended 14 race days for careless riding in Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) and has been placed on probation through the remainder of the Championship Meet.

Lopez was aboard In Due Time in the Fountain of Youth, and appeared to be the cause of a two-horse spill.

High Oak, ridden by Junior Alvarado, clipped heels when it appeared that Lopez shifted his mount In Due Time to the outside on the far turn, forcing A.P.'s Secret and jockey Tyler Gaffalione to alter course toward High Oak. Galt dislodged rider Joel Rosario when that horse tried to avoid the fallen High Oak.

Both High Oaks and Galt, each trained by Bill Moot, did not suffer obvious injuries and walked back to their stables.

Alvarado returned to the jockeys room complaining of ankle soreness, but was not seriously injured. Alvarado took off his mounts Sunday and Wednesday.

Rosario returned to the jockeys room on his own power but took off the final race complaining of a sore back.

Stewards conducted an inquiry immediately after the race, but allowed the original results to stand.

Associate Steward Stephen DiMauro added details were being worked out as to when Lopez would begin serving his days.

Furthermore, to better serve the stewards and customers, Gulfstream Park officials announced Wednesday that additional cameras would be added and installed in the near future to provide better views of each race on dirt, turf and Tapeta.

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