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Arkansas Derby Preps Can Be Lasix-Free After State Signs Off On Revised Rule

Oaklawn Park will now have the ability to card Lasix-free stakes races after a state legislative review committee in Arkansas signed off on a series of racing rule changes Friday. According to the Daily Racing Form, Oaklawn can now fall into line with the new requirements by Churchill Downs that all qualifying points races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks must be run with 24-hour furosemide administration only.

Also among new rule changes are a reduction of furosemide dosage from 500 milligrams to 250 milligrams, and a 60-day prohibition on clenbuterol pre-race.

The move comes as 1/ST Racing announced that Gulfstream Park stakes races in 2021 will be run under the same condition. Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Del Mar, The Stronach Group, NYRA and others in the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition have called for gradual partial phaseout of the anti-bleeding medication pre-race over recent years. Several tracks carded races in 2020 with the new 24-hour Lasix administration time for 2-year-old races, and the second part of the phaseout calls for the same rule to apply to stakes races in 2021.

Ultimately, coalition organizers have said, they hope the new rules will give trainers a chance to see whether young racehorses really need the drug and to reduce the number of severe bleeders entering the gene pool. A multi-jurisdictional study is underway to study the prevalence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in 2-year-olds under the new rules.

All Gulfstream Stakes Races To Be Held Without Lasix In 2021

1/ST RACING announced Friday that 2021 stakes races run at the company's premier Florida racetrack Gulfstream Park will be carded Lasix-free effective Jan. 1.

The move to medication-free racing reflects the commitment made in April 2019 by 1/ST, along with other major racing organizations and associations, to eliminate Lasix in all stakes races in 2021 and is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards.

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach will be the first racetrack in Florida to move to medication-free racing. The medication-free format for stakes races will apply to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) set to take place on Jan. 23, as well as to the beloved Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2), held annually at Gulfstream Park.

In 2020, the administration of race day Lasix was also banned for 2-year-old horses entered at any of 1/ST RACING's racetracks, including at California's Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.

1/ST has been at the forefront of industry-leading efforts to prioritize the health and safety of horses and riders and is committed to the care of Thoroughbreds before, during and after their racing careers.

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Woodbine Announces Trio Of Initiatives To Support Backstretch Community This Winter

Woodbine Entertainment announced Friday a trio of initiatives designed to support the 130 people living on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack during the winter months.

First, Woodbine has partnered with the Horses First Fund, which will sponsor a nutritious, hot meal each week. The program will start on Wednesday, December 23 with a roast beef lunch then continue Fridays after that. This generous offering will be incorporated into a larger effort from Woodbine to engage backstretch workers over the course of the winter months through activities, shuttles to local malls and product giveaways.

The Horses First Fund assists Thoroughbreds and their caretakers in need of emergency aid due to large scale neglect, natural disaster, or other catastrophes.

Horses First Fund founder Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods said: “I was especially moved by the misfortune caused by the pandemic on the Woodbine backstretch workers. Throughout this challenging year, the Horses First Fund has provided emergency funding to seven aftercare organizations, four backstretch organizations, and contributed to two equine feed assistance programs.”

The Horses First Fund is administered by the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

Additionally, Woodbine has reduced the rent for those living on the backstretch by 50 percent. Both the sponsored meal program and the Woodbine rent program will support workers until the reopening of the backstretch in February 2021.

Finally, in addition to its regular annual donation, Woodbine will make a $4,000 donation to the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada to help ensure proper resources, programming and support for those remaining on the Woodbine Racetrack backstretch throughout the winter.

“This year has been tremendously difficult for so many people, including those that contribute to our world-class racing at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We know that due to circumstances beyond their control, many are unable to be with their friends and family this winter. I would like to thank our partners the Horses First Fund and the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada, whom together with us will help ensure that everyone here at Woodbine has the support they need this holiday season and beyond.”

Earlier this month, Lawson was on-site to personally hand out holiday gifts to impacted backstretch workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for the Woodbine Thoroughbred community. Due to government restrictions, the season started late and ended early, denying the community their ability to earn money from the final three weeks of racing.

Woodbine thanks those involved in the training and care of Thoroughbred horses and wishes the entire Thoroughbred community a healthy and safe holiday season.

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American Graded Stakes Committee: Saratoga Derby Upgraded To Grade 1 Status

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for 2021, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 15 and 16. The committee evaluated races conducted after the 2019 Breeders' Cup through March 15 as normal and races after March 15 were evaluated as normal, as well, but took care to consider any pandemic-related circumstances that may have affected, positively or negatively, the 2020 renewal.

The Committee reviewed 849 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 445 of them, three fewer than were graded in 2020, and Listed status to 193 races. Three Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade 1 and four new Grade 3 races were named; 12 new Listed races were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type status. Fifteen races which carried Graded or Listed status in 2020 are no longer eligible for grading.

One race, the Saratoga Derby Invitational S. at Saratoga, was upgraded to Grade 1 status for 2021.

No races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 for 2021.

Three races were upgraded to Grade 2 status for 2021: the Red Smith S. at Aqueduct and Franklin-Simpson S. and Kentucky Turf Cup S. at Kentucky Downs.

Three races were downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 in 2021: the Knickerbocker S. at Belmont Park and Palos Verdes S. and Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Park.

Four races were upgraded to Grade 3 status for 2021: the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park; Tourist Mile S. at Kentucky Downs; and Caress S. and Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. at Saratoga.

Five races were downgraded from Grade 3 to Listed status for 2021: the Discovery S. at Aqueduct; Palm Beach S. and Rampart S. at Gulfstream Park; Red Bank S. at Monmouth Park; and Senator Ken Maddy S. at Santa Anita Park.

Twelve races were upgraded to Listed status for 2021: the CTT and TOC S. at Del Mar; Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf S. and Kentucky Downs Preview Tourist Mile S. at Ellis Park; Pago Hop S. and Tom Benson Memorial S. at Fair Grounds; Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs; Oaklawn Mile S. and Oaklawn S. at Oaklawn Park; Desert Code S. at Santa Anita Park; Mahony S. at Saratoga; Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs; and Kentucky Cup Classic S. at Turfway Park.

Five races were downgraded from Listed to non-Listed Black Type status for 2021: Correction S. at Aqueduct; Delta Mile S. at Delta Downs; Azalea S. at Gulfstream Park; Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park; and John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.

The Arlington Classic S., Arlington Matron S. and Stars and Stripes S. at Arlington Park; the C.E.R.F. S., Daisycutter H., Osunitas S. and Wickerr S. at Del Mar; Skip Away S. at Gulfstream Park; Maxxam Gold Cup S. at Sam Houston Race Park; Lone Star Park H. at Lone Star Park; Iowa Distaff S. and Saylorville S. at Prairie Meadows; and Adoration S., Black Pearl S. and Midnight Lute S. at Santa Anita Park were not eligible for grading in 2021.

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