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ARCI: Financial Impact, Implementation Details Should Be Known Before Passage Of HISA Bill

Expressing concerns about undefined cost mandates and implementation issues associated with S.4547, the proposed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020, the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) believes Legislators should require more information about how the legislation will impact individual States before moving forward with the proposal.

“The RCI Board believes there are some very good things in this bill,” said Ed Martin, President of the ARCI. “But there is a huge financial unknown concerning the cost, especially how it will impact smaller and mid-sized racing entities and exactly how this is to be implemented.”

Martin said the ARCI is committed to a smooth transition once the proposal is enacted into law, noting that the legislation addresses issues long advocated by the association, specifically uniform rules and testing. “This legislation accomplishes that and also solves the funding issue that has been an annual headache for every racing commission,” he said.

The ARCI Board met this week and discussed the proposal at length. “There are many questions about how this will work and a general concern about how smaller and midsized racing venues will survive if required to pay additional regulatory expenses,” he said. A staff analysis of the legislation noted at least 35 racing venues in 19 US States that should be monitored to assess the extent to which they will be able to withstand additional financial mandates imposed by the legislation.

The RCI Board felt that there were too many unanswered questions to embrace the legislation at this time although directors from Kentucky spoke in favor, West Virginia against, and some other jurisdictions withheld comment pending direction from their full Commission.

Other than shifting medication rule making authority and in some jurisdictions the responsibility for operating and paying for the enforcement program, the State Racing Commissions are perhaps the entities least impacted by this legislation.

There is a concern that in an attempt to strengthen racing, this bill may reduce racing opportunities in some communities with a ripple effect on local economies, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“The RCI Board believes the sponsors and proponents of this bill should allay those fears by providing details about the anticipated costs associated with the new Authority and the Enforcement Agency as well as state specific operational costs should they assume the entire enforcement program now operated by the State,” Martin said.

Martin said that the statute, when implemented, will be similar in some ways to the system in place for RCI Members in Canada, except that investigations there and adjudications are handled by Provincial Racing Commissions with testing and screening limits handled by a federal agency uniformly.

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Thoroughbred Incentive Program, U.S. Polo Association To Offer Thoroughbred Polo Awards

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) and United States Polo Association® (USPA) announced today that they will recognize Thoroughbreds that are excelling as polo horses through six awards that will be offered annually, starting this year. For a Thoroughbred to be eligible for these awards, it must have a T.I.P. number. There is no charge for a T.I.P. number.

“Polo is just one of many disciplines in which Thoroughbreds can succeed following their racing careers, and T.I.P. is pleased to partner with the USPA to honor the accomplishments of these horses at all levels of polo,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel of The Jockey Club and coordinator of T.I.P.

Each award winner will receive an award sash and special logo prizes. The categories for each award are:

High Goal Horse: for a Thoroughbred that has played in at least one USPA Outdoor Tournament in 2020 and scored more than 16 goals in total.
Medium Goal Horse: for a Thoroughbred that has played in at least one USPA Outdoor Tournament in 2020 and scored eight to 16 goals in total.
Low Goal Horse: for a Thoroughbred that has played in at least one USPA Outdoor Tournament in 2020 and scored fewer than eight goals in total.
Arena Polo Horse: for a Thoroughbred that has played in at least one USPA Arena Tournament in 2020.
Lesson Horse: for a Thoroughbred used in a lesson program at a USPA club.
Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Horse: for a Thoroughbred that has played in an I/I Regional or National Tournament in 2020.

“The USPA is excited to work with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program to highlight the Thoroughbred's long history in the sport of polo,” said Justin Powers, executive director of the United States Polo Association Polo Development LLC.

Applications will open on the T.I.P. and USPA websites on November 1 and close November 30. The winners will be announced in January and selected based on the application and an essay. Applicants will be judged by a committee formed by the USPA and T.I.P.

Created and announced in October 2011, T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards. Additional information about T.I.P. is available at tjctip.com and on the T.I.P. Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.

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Maker-Trained Field Pass Ships West For Twilight Derby; Taishan Seems To Prefer Grass

Field Pass was en route from Kentucky to California this morning to compete in next Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita Park.

The gray son of Lemon Drop Kid is one of five horses trainer Michael Maker had nominated to what is shaping up as a race worthy of Grade I consideration down the road.

“He prefers firmer going; that was the main reason bringing him in for the race,” Maker said by phone from the Blue Grass State.

Field Pass has five victories from 13 starts, including the Transylvania at Keeneland on turf and the Jeff Ruby Steaks on Polytrack at Turfway Park, each a Grade 3 event.

The Twilight Derby drew 21 nominations, eight conditioned by “out of town” trainers, including one by Todd Pletcher and the aforementioned five by Maker.

“Field Pass is very good around the barn but a bit of a handful to gallop,” Maker said. “Other than that, he's pretty straightforward.”

Louisville native Drayden Van Dyke has the mount.

Richard Baltas hopes Taishan wins his first stakes race when he runs in the Twilight Derby.

Taishan, a Candy Ride colt, was second last out in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs Sept. 5, losing by only a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, despite being bothered at the start.

“It was his first time on grass and it was a very good effort,” Baltas said of the Kentucky-bred bay owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran. “It was a half-million dollar race and there was a lot of speed, so I think it kind of set up for him.

“That being said, I think he was always meant to be on the grass. He ran against some tough horses on dirt at Oaklawn in Nadal (winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on May 2).

“Candy Rides are pretty versatile but I think they prefer the turf.”

Taishan's first three races were in Southern California, but his last seven included stops at Oaklawn Park, Indiana and Churchill Downs.

Florent Geroux, who rode Taishan in the American Derby, was impressed with his performance.

“They wanted me to get a position (near the lead) but they were rolling in front so we went to Plan B,” the Frenchman said after the race. “I set off inside nicely and made one run. He ran a big race, first time on grass. He handled it perfectly.

“He's a nice horse. He'd been working very well and I'm very happy with the way he ran.”

Taishan was a distant fourth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile on dirt at Santa Anita Jan. 4 behind Authentic, who would go on to win the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

Any way it shakes out, the Twilight Derby has the look of a very contentious race.

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America Appoints Five New Members To Board Of Directors

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today the appointment of Leah O'Meara, Andy Hils, Erik Johnson, Marshall Gramm, and Marette Farrell to its Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to welcome these wonderful people to the TCA board,” said Mike McMahon, president of the TCA. “Our board is committed to carrying on the good work started by our founders over 30 years ago. These new board members recognize that service for the common good is rewarding beyond measure. As a volunteer board, each of us works tirelessly for horses and horse people who need help. In 2020, we distributed over $1 million to successful grant applicants and through our Horses First emergency fund.”

Leah O'Meara is a native of Lafayette, La., and moved to Kentucky to attend Midway College. During college she worked for Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and later in veterinary pharmaceutical sales. Currently, she works for her family's Stonehaven Steadings in Versailles, Ky. and resides on the farm with her husband and children. Notable Stonehaven Steadings-breds include Shanghai Bobby, Daredevil, Hour Glass, and Olive Branch.

Erik Johnson is a 13-year National Hockey League veteran for the Colorado Avalanche. A native of Bloomington, Minn., Johnson won a silver medal for Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC. He became involved in racing in 2016 and has campaigned under his ERJ Racing banner multiple Grade 1 winner Bowies Hero as well as graded stakes winners Comical, Shane's Girlfriend, Munny Spunt, and Lazy Daisy.

Andy Hils is a banker in the Lexington office of Limestone Bank. Hils is a senior vice president with 25 years of commercial lending experience primarily in the equine industry, agricultural industry, as well as commercial real estate and manufacturing sectors. Hils has been an owner in various Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing syndicates over the years and currently serves on the Finance Committee for the Thoroughbred Club of America. He also serves on the Resources Education and Assistance Community Housing board.

Marette Farrell grew up on a stud farm in Ireland and pinhooked two-year-olds to help pay for college. After graduation she went on to work for trainers in Dubai, France, Australia, and the U.S. In 2008, she formed her own bloodstock agency where she currently works in an advisory capacity for long-term clients. Farrell helped purchase and mate the dam of Belmont Stakes winner Creator and also advised in the purchase of Storm the Court and many other Grade I winners.

Marshall Gramm grew up in Washington, D.C. and became involved in horseracing because of the statistical and problem-solving aspects of betting. Gramm is an Economics Ph.D. and professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. He is an avid bettor and has qualified for the National Handicapping Championships six times finishing ninth in 2019 and fifth at the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge in 2018. Gramm and partner Clay Sanders co-founded Ten Strike Racing in 2016 and currently have more than 50 horses in training.

The five newly elected board members join current board members Bob Beck, Bing Bush, Lesley Campion, Bob Edwards, Terry Finley, Lesley Howard (treasurer), Davant Latham (secretary), Brant Laue, Nathan McCauley (vice president), Mike McMahon (president), Jaime Roth, and Anna Seitz.

Gretchen Jackson, Ellen Moelis, Herb Moelis, and Dan Rosenberg are directors emeriti.

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds to charities in the Thoroughbred industry that provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. In 2020, TCA granted over $1 million to 70 charities working within Thoroughbred retraining, rehoming and retirement; backstretch and farm worker services, research and equine-assisted therapy. Over the last 30 years, TCA has granted more than $24 million to more than 200 charities that successfully meet the criteria set forth in its annual grant application. TCA also administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds in need of emergency aid. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owner and Breeders Association (TOBA). More information can be found at tca.org.

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