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Lichoa Enters Guilty Plea To Charge Of Money Laundering Conspiracy

Alfredo Lichoa, longtime Central Florida horseman, has entered a guilty plea to a charge of money laundering conspiracy according to federal court records. Lichoa was indicted alongside four others in March by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York – the same prosecutor's office which, days earlier, had indicted more than two dozen trainers and veterinarians (including trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis) on charges of drug misbranding relating to an alleged horse doping ring. Lichoa and four others were arrested on March 9, the same day the FBI executed arrest and search warrants in Florida and New York in connection with the Navarro/Servis investigation.

Additional defendants charged with money laundering conspiracy in March were Jose “Pepe” Morely Chocron; Isaac Schachtel, a licensed Thoroughbred owner from Venezuela living in Miami; Juan Carlos Balaguera-Villamizar; and Juan Marcos Matos Ruiz.

A superseding indictment filed in the case in early August charged only Lichoa, Schachtel and Chocron with one count of money laundering conspiracy. The new indictment sought forfeiture of assets the defendants may have gained as a result of their actions.

The original indictment described a scheme by the defendants to launder money purportedly from corrupt politicians in Brazil. The money was used to get preferential treatment in business deals. The scheme is alleged to have included the horsemen's accounts belonging to trainers in the South Florida area. Trainers were supposedly able to put money into the accounts and either rapidly resell a horse or rely on consistent wins by the horse to get their money back out.

The original indictment included quotes from Schachtel, who is supposed to have relied on Lichoa to guarantee the safety of funds because of “systematic administration of illicit performance enhancing drugs to the racehorses under his control,” according to federal prosecutors.

Read more about the original indictment here.

A sentencing hearing for Lichoa is set for Feb. 17, 2021 before Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

A trial date for Chocron has been set for March 30, 2021.

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Santa Anita ‘Good Neighbor’ Policy Provides Spacious Grounds For Community Organizations

In what has been an incredibly challenging year for all segments of society, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., has been quick to assist a number of schools, local service organizations and others in need of open space for a wide variety of needs, including fund raising, small animal veterinary care, driver training, fire evacuation, E-Waste collection and much more.

One recent example of Santa Anita's community service came this past September, when the track assisted the American Red Cross and the city of Arcadia by serving as an evacuation site for the Bobcat Fire which was raging in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.

“Being a good neighbor is something we take great pride in,” said Pete Siberell, Santa Anita's longtime Director of Community Services and Special Projects. “With the on-going Covid crisis, there has been an increased need for open space and we're very fortunate to be in a position to assist a number of local entities, including schools, Arcadia Fire, Methodist Hospital, the Girl Scouts of America, small animal veterinary needs and many more.

“Horse racing is obviously our core business and although we remain open for training and look forward to our traditional Winter/Spring Meet opener on Dec. 26, we are still not allowed to admit the general public, so this has opened up our parking lots and Grandstand areas throughout the year for a variety of projects and community oriented events.”

One very significant recent development has been the on-site establishment of not-for-profit Free Animal Doctor, which began operating a small animal veterinary clinic in Santa Anita's parking lot 7 this past September.

“Free Animal Doctor (FAD) has been a great addition for us,” said Siberell. “Our backside community is populated by hundreds of animal lovers and FAD recently performed 30 low cost spay and neuter procedures, primarily for those folks that work in the Stable Area. FAD is going to be partnering soon with the Pasadena Humane Society, so their positive impact on the community at large is going to become even greater.”

In terms of fund raising activities, in the month of November alone, Santa Anita has hosted a Drive-in Movie Night for the Sierra Madre-based Gooden School (K-8), a Family Gratitude Drive Through Event for Highland Oaks (middle school) PTSA/Arcadia, a Food Distribution Event for Girl Scouts of America/Arcadia, a Crystal Ball Fundraiser Drive-Through for the (Arcadia) Methodist Hospital Foundation and a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, sponsored by the Fellowship Monrovia Church.

Santa Anita has always served as a year-round Driver Training facility for the Arcadia Fire Department and has traditionally provided acreage for Rose Parade Band training for out-of-town universities. This past December, Pasadena City College and the Alhambra Unified School District also came to Santa Anita to help train their respective bands in advance of Pasadena's annual New Year's Day extravaganza.

This past February, Santa Anita facilitated Driver Training for the Sierra Madre Fire Department and did the same for Monrovia Fire July.

Additionally, Santa Anita assisted the LA County Sanitation Department this past August as they hosted an E-Waste collection event in the track's Infield parking lot.

For more information on Santa Anita's upcoming Winter/Spring Meet and other events, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Despite Shorter Meet, Indiana Grand Sets Several New Wagering Records

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., completed its 18th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Thursday, Nov. 18. The abbreviated 96-day season offered 92 days of combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing along with four days dedicated directly to the sprinters to set a new wagering record of $198,960,722.

Record numbers were posted throughout the season. The track recorded its highest single program handle on the Indiana Derby Wednesday, July 8, with a total of $5,979,952 wagered on the 12-race card. The Indiana Derby race alone garnered $1,026,395, which was a single race record for the track. The four-day race period also marked the best week ever in the 18-year history of racing for Indiana Grand with a total of $13,176,192 wagered.

Overall, the track saw an increase of 60.93 percent over 2019. A total of $198,960,722 was wagered from all sources in 2020 compared to $123,635,376 in 2019 – with 26 fewer days in 2020.

Quarter Horse racing also saw a 17.33 percent increase in 2020. Total handle for Quarter Horse racing in 2020 was $20,143,348.30 compared to $17,168,338 in 2019 with two fewer all-Quarter Horse days held in 2020 compared to 2019. The track recorded its largest single card handle on an all-Quarter Horse day with $819,708.35 wagered on the Saturday, Aug. 8 program.

The final week of racing also established some records as a total of $3,869,898 was wagered on the final program of the year, Thursday, Nov. 19, marking the largest handle on a non-Indiana Derby racing card in the history of the track.

In all, a total of six days in 2020 showed handle in excess of $3 million. Only one card all season containing Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing did not eclipse $1 million in total handle, which was a shortened two-race day due to weather cancellation. The total of 91 days with handle in excess of $1 million is also a track record for Indiana Grand.

“To get 96 racing days in during these unprecedented times is a real credit to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) staff, our horsemen and our very dedicated group of employees,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “When you consider that we did all of that while breaking every handle record on the books makes the season a success by any measure.”

Racing dates for 2021 will be reviewed and expected to be approved by the IHRC at their monthly meeting in December. Indiana Grand hopes to return to its regular 120- racing season including six days dedicated to Quarter Horse racing.

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Andrew Wyeth’s ‘Over The Hill’ Brings Top Bid At Sporting Art Auction

Andrew Wyeth's Over the Hill, a watercolor painted by Wyeth in 1973 that remained in his personal collection until 2006, brought $109,250, including buyer premium, to headline Sunday's eighth annual Sporting Art Auction, a collaboration between Keeneland and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington, Ky., held virtually on Sunday afternoon.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bidding on this year's auction of 188 high-quality lots representing fine sporting art, American paintings and sculpture by renowned artists was conducted online and via phone.

Gross sales for the Sporting Art Auction totaled $1,625,945.

LeRoy Neiman's Satchmo, an oil portrait of famed jazz musician Louis Armstrong signed, dated '61 and inscribed 'Satch,' sold for the day's second-highest price of $103,500, including buyer premium. Neiman and Armstrong often crossed paths during their careers and held a mutual respect and admiration for each other's talent.

Bringing the auction's third-highest price of $72,000, including buyer premium, was Henry Stull's Domino with Jockey Up, an oil portrait signed and dated 1900. This depiction of Domino, a famed sprinter and breed-shaping sire, was part of the recent Tales from the Turf: The Kentucky Horse, 1925-1950 exhibit at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville.

Other notable works sold as part of the Sporting Art Auction were Henry Faulkner's Clay House, an oil signed, dated '71 en verso with sticker reading 'The Henry Clay House' for $47,150; Edward Troye's Cattle in a Landscape, an oil signed and dated 1848, for $42,550; Troye's Mambrino Patchen, an oil portrait signed and dated September 23, 1868, for $40,250; Neiman's Ascot Jockey, an oil signed, dated '65 and inscribed en verso for $40,250; and Andre Pater's Caravan to Appleby Fair, a signed oil for $40,250. All prices include buyer premium.

In keeping with Keeneland's mission, its portion of the auction proceeds will benefit its non-profit initiatives.

For more information, please visit thesportingartauction.com.

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