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‘Better Now Than She’s Ever Been’: Champion Monomoy Girl Readies For Next Saturday’s Ruffian

Eclipse Award-winning mare Monomoy Girl will kick off her 2020 graded stakes action in attempt to make a case for Champion Older Mare in next Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian on July 11 at Belmont.

The daughter of Tapizar arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday alongside Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile contender Warrior's Charge for trainer Brad Cox. Following a sensational 3-year-old campaign in 2018, which included five Grade 1 victories in the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Acorn at Belmont Park, Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl missed the entirety of her 4-year-old season.

She was sent to WinStar Farm last spring after a mild case of colic and suffered an injury to her hamstring last fall when preparing for a potential comeback.

Despite being forced to twice delay her long-anticipated return to action, Monomoy Girl put her winning ways on display last out, going a one-turn mile in a Churchill Downs allowance event that featured stakes winners Talk Veuve To Me and Fashion Faux Pas.

In her first start since defeating older fillies and mares in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Monomoy Girl tracked the pace over a sloppy main track sitting a close fifth early on and received her cue from jockey Florent Geroux around the far turn before drawing off to a 2 ¾-length victory.

“She's doing awesome. It would help if we could have run a week or two earlier but it's a great spot to jump off her last effort,” said Liz Crow of BSW/Crow Bloodstock who manages Monomoy Girl on behalf of owners Monomoy Stable, Michael Dubb, the Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables.

Although the talented chestnut mare's career highlights have taken place in the two-turn Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff, Crow said she can thrive going a one-turn mile. She owns victories going the distance in the Grade 1 Acorn in June 2018 as well as the Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs during her 2-year-old campaign.

Crow indicated a second victory in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course is the end goal.

“She's deadly going a one turn mile,” Crow said. “Her speed figures in the Acorn, Rags to Riches and her last start were great. But from here, she'll see a mile and a sixteenth to a mile and an eighth. The Personal Ensign is a little quick back after the Ruffian, but we do know that the Breeders' Cup is definitely the long term.”

Crow, who signed the ticket for Monomoy Girl when she went through the sales ring at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was purchased for $100,000.

“It's amazing how much she's changed,” Crow said. “If you look at her you could mistake her for a colt. Her hips have widened, her shoulders have deepened, and looking her now as a 5-year-old she just doesn't look like the same horse. She's better now than she's ever been.”

Monomoy Girl has accumulated just over $3 million in lifetime earnings and has never finished worse than second in a dozen starts, 10 of which were victories.

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Welfare Of Humans, Horses Top Priority At Del Mar Summer Meet

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) will continue its enhanced safety measures for its horses and riders, while now also implementing a new set of protocols and procedures to ensure human safety, as its seaside Thoroughbred headquarters prepares to celebrate its 81st season of racing.

The horse/rider initiatives amplify the effective safety and welfare measures that Del Mar introduced over the last several seasons of racing and which have led to it being recognized as one the safest racetracks in the U.S. for both 2018 and 2019, according to The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database, which ranks Del Mar as among the safest major racetracks in the country with a rate of 0.79 fatal injuries per 1,000 starts in 2018 and 0.62 in 2019. The national average for track's reporting was 1.68.

Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the track also will take the unprecedented step of racing without fans in attendance in 2020 and with an extensive series of health and safety measures in place for all mandatory personnel.

“We're all about safety here,” said DMTC's CEO Joe Harper. “Safety and health will be our focus for the people involved with putting on this year's extraordinary race meet, but we'll also be continuing with our safety reforms for the well-being of our riders and horses.”

Working with health and medical experts in the county and state, Del Mar has put together a large-scale human safety program that will ensure those onsite at the 340-acre Del Mar Racetrack will have the most secure working environment possible during the 28-day session that runs from July 10 to September 7.

Among the daily measures that will be implemented throughout the 2020 summer race meeting at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club:

Admittance to the facility will be strictly limited to essential personnel
Daily on-site health screening for all personnel, which include temperature checks
All personnel will be required to wear face coverings
Some staff – such as jockeys and the starting gate crew – will be required to wear additional personal protective equipment
Proper social distancing will be required
Additional handwashing and sanitizer stations throughout the Grandstand and stable area
Enhanced janitorial services including daily disinfectant of all “common areas”
No congregation of people will be permitted in the saddling/paddock area
Saddling/paddock area and starting gate will be disinfected after each race
On-site medical personnel
Quarantine area procedures

Additionally, access to the Del Mar stable area will be limited to those licensed individuals who work directly with the horses. Stable area personnel will be subject to the same mask/wristbands/distance rules all frontside individuals will work under.

As for the track's extensive horse/rider safety program, it again will follow its well-considered and newly bolstered set of racing safety protocols that have been a model for best practices adopted by other tracks across the nation. Among racing steps that will be in place for the upcoming Thoroughbred stand are:

Entry Review Panel. The continuation of a panel of experts made up of regulatory veterinarians who will oversee the entries of all horses and provide an additional review of each of their medical, training and racing history. The panel will recommend to the track's Stewards that any horse it deems unfit for competition not be allowed to race.
Medication Reform. Del Mar will further its adoption of reforms modeled after the International Federation Horseracing Association (IFHA) requirements. Rules surrounding NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) have been enhanced and extended and additional rules regarding other equine medications have been clarified and codified.
Increases in out-of-competition testing. Random testing will continue on for any horse at Del Mar, including ones readying for – or having just completed – morning workouts.
Enhanced stable security. As before, and working in conjunction with the investigative staff of the CHRB, an enhanced stable security team will monitor all aspects of the stable area to ensure that rules are properly followed.
Veterinary protocols for morning training. Just as they were last summer, veterinarians will be stationed at elevated observation points at the facility to oversee morning workouts and will have the ability – through communication with outriders – to remove horses from the racetrack and have them undergo a follow-up soundness examination.
Prohibit the use of the riding crop during morning workouts. Exercise riders and jockeys again will be prohibited from using a riding crop to encourage their horses during morning workouts. Del Mar continues to work with the CHRB and the Jockey's Guild on additional guidelines for riding crop use.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee. DMTC created a stakeholder advisory committee last summer represented by trainers, veterinarians, jockeys, racing surfaces maintenance personnel and management that met regularly to discuss safety practices, operations and track surfaces. That committee will be in session during 2020 also.
In addition, the conditions of all horses stabled at Del Mar (approximately 1,800) once more will be thoroughly analyzed by Del Mar's racing department regularly with specific conditions (e.g., gaps in racing or workout activity) flagged for additional scrutiny.

Over the past three years, Del Mar made a series of changes and adjustments aimed at horse and rider safety. Those measures will carry forward to this summer and include:

The highly professional work of our directors of racing surfaces maintenance. In 2017, DMTC hired Dennis Moore, widely considered the top track maintenance professional in the industry. Moore immediately changed Del Mar's banking and grading to conform with the other racing surfaces in Southern California, allowing an easy transition for horses competing in the Los Angeles-area. Moore's exceptional work – as well as the untiring efforts of our grass course specialist Leif Dickinson – will be at the heart of the track's safety efforts.
Fewer horses on the grounds. Over the past several seasons, DMTC has reduced the number of horses allowed on the grounds by more than 15% – from approximately 2,100 to 1,800. Fewer horses alleviated demand for access to the main track during busy morning training hours, creating a safer training environment.

Adjusted morning workouts. DMTC allowed only “workers” (those going at race speed, not joggers or gallopers) on the track for the first 10 minutes following the first two morning breaks. It has proven to be a successful safety procedure that has been adopted by other tracks in the industry.

Enhanced veterinary inspections. DMTC will continue to employ additional veterinarians to conduct pre-race inspections and monitor pre-race activities for starters, creating four distinct veterinary observation points for horses on race day.

Racing Surfaces expert Dr. Mick Peterson. DMTC continues to be aided by the services of Dr. Mick Peterson, director of University of Kentucky's Equine Ag Programs and Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, widely recognized as the nation's foremost track surfaces analyst.

In addition, in 2019 DMTC joined the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an association of major U.S. racing organizations committed to meaningful reforms and accountability across U.S. racing jurisdictions. Del Mar remains fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance for its upcoming season, having passed a complete review of equine and track safety protocols, injury reporting and prevention, medication testing, jockey health and safety best practices, wagering integrity and equine aftercare policies at its most recent testing.

Del Mar will race on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the summer, finishing its meet with a traditional closing day card on Labor Day Monday. First post daily will be 2 p.m.

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Bill Thomason To Retire As Keeneland President, CEO; Shannon Bishop Arvin Named Successor

Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason today announced he will retire at the end of 2020 after a decade with Keeneland Association, including eight years at the helm of the global racing and sales company. Shannon Bishop Arvin, who as a partner with Stoll Keenon Ogden (SKO) has served as corporate counsel to Keeneland since 2008 and as Secretary and Advisory Member of Keeneland's Board of Directors since 2015, has been named by the Keeneland Trustees to succeed Thomason. Arvin will serve as the incoming President-elect beginning Sept. 1 and will officially transition to President and CEO on Jan. 1, 2021. She becomes Keeneland's eighth President and the first woman to serve in that position.

“Bill Thomason has led Keeneland with passion and integrity and with a commitment to its customers and a devotion to the Keeneland team,” Keeneland Trustee Everett Dobson said. “People who care as much as Bill are what makes Keeneland so incredibly special. He leaves a tremendous legacy of service to Keeneland, the horse industry and the community, and his accomplishments have indelibly shaped the future of our sport.”

“I've never met anyone who has more love for Keeneland or more respect for its traditions than Bill Thomason,” Keeneland Trustee Bill Lear said. “He has demonstrated both qualities in everything he has done as President, and we take this opportunity to thank him for serving Keeneland so well.”

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to be part of the Keeneland family,” Thomason said. “I feel privileged to work alongside people who share a commitment to always put the best interest of the horse first and to exceed our customer's expectations. Keeneland was founded upon these principles, which continue to guide our operations to this day. Shannon's life and work experiences intertwine with that philosophy, and I look forward to her leadership of Keeneland for years to come.”

The appointment of Arvin was a unanimous decision by the Keeneland Trustees.

“Bill notified us last year of his wish to spend more time with his family and his plans for retirement,” Keeneland Trustee Seth Hancock said. “We are grateful to have had ample time to thoughtfully select his successor. We have all known Shannon for years through her service to Keeneland and numerous boards in the racing industry. We approached her to see if there was an interest on her part, and I am happy to say there was. Our wide-ranging discussions with her that followed confirmed our initial judgement: Shannon's leadership, professionalism, the respect she has earned within the horse industry, her intimate knowledge of Keeneland's core businesses and her vision for Keeneland's future made her the clear choice to become the next President.”

Through her work with SKO's Lexington office, where she has practiced since 2002, Arvin has represented Thoroughbred owners and prominent industry organizations in Kentucky and around the world, among them Keeneland, Breeders' Cup Ltd., Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. She also serves on the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of The Jockey Club.

“I have had the honor of working with Shannon for many years, and her expertise and knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry and her impressive leadership abilities make her a great choice for Keeneland,” Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming said. “Breeders' Cup has a long-standing bond with Keeneland, and we look forward to working with Shannon, Bill and their entire team to not only make the Breeders' Cup World Championships a resounding success in 2020 but also to innovate and grow our sport going forward. Today's announcement is a major win for the future of racing.”

Arvin brings to her new role a unique perspective of Keeneland's rich history and what the iconic track means to horsemen, fans and Central Kentucky. Her grandfather W.T. “Bish” Bishop was the first General Manager of Keeneland when the track opened in 1936. Her father, the late William T. “Buddy” Bishop III, grew up at Keeneland, living in an apartment next to the Clubhouse. Buddy Bishop's lifelong service to Keeneland included positions as Director, Secretary, Trustee and Counsel. He was also a partner at SKO and worked with his daughter at the firm until his passing in 2008.

“Through her legal career at SKO and her service on numerous industry boards and community organizations, Shannon has earned international respect for her wise counsel and love of the Thoroughbred industry,” Dobson said. “Her deep roots with Keeneland and appreciation for its mission will allow her to lead with the same integrity and enthusiasm she has brought to every organization she has served.”

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve as President and CEO of Keeneland,” Arvin said. “I am also thankful for my experience at Stoll Keenon Ogden these past 18 years. I appreciate the trust and confidence placed in me by my clients and my law partners, and I look forward to continuing to work with them in a different capacity.

“I have a deep love and passion for Keeneland and it is a tremendous honor to lead this organization and work alongside this amazing team,” she said. “By building on the foundation laid by Bill Thomason and those who came before him, and with a continued focus on integrity, innovation and safety, we will further the mission of Keeneland and ensure the future of this sport.”

Thomason's legacy one of advancement and innovation at Keeneland and within the horse industry

Bill Thomason navigated Keeneland through a decade of substantial growth and change in the Thoroughbred industry. Keeneland successfully hosted the 2015 Breeders' Cup which generated a nearly $70 million economic impact for Lexington, and he negotiated the event's return to Keeneland in 2020. Keeneland achieved record Spring and Fall Meet attendance and handle, highlighted by the more than $25 million wagered on last year's Toyota Blue Grass Day and the more than $160 million wagered during the 2019 Fall Meet. The Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G2) were elevated to $1 million stakes. On the sales front, Keeneland further expanded its global outreach, resulting in gross sales of more than $627 million last year; launched the Keeneland Digital Sales Ring, the first online sales auction in North America; and undertook a multimillion-dollar renovation of the barn area to better showcase offerings for Keeneland auctions.

Under Thomason's leadership, Keeneland was a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition. As a passionate leader in the area of equine safety and welfare, Thomason was integral in initiating the hiring of an Equine Safety Director at Keeneland and championing race track surfaces research and testing, racing and sales medication reforms and industry initiatives to promote the betterment of the sport. He has served as chairman of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, a member of The Jockey Club, on the board of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation and University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Advisory Board. Like Keeneland, each of these organizations has realized the benefits of Thomason's leadership, integrity and his undeniable devotion to the safety of the horse and the future of the Thoroughbred industry.

“Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry have been very fortunate to have Bill Thomason as President and CEO of Keeneland for the past eight years,” Fleming of Breeders' Cup said. “Under Bill's leadership, Keeneland implemented numerous significant initiatives that will leave a lasting positive impact on the Thoroughbred business, including Keeneland's hosting of the groundbreaking 2015 Breeders' Cup and being a co-founder of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition. It has been a real pleasure to work closely with Bill, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.”

Keeneland's outreach during Thomason's tenure expanded beyond traditional business lines, most significantly with the track's historic partnerships with Red Mile and Churchill Downs on historical gaming and simulcasting facilities. Keeneland Hospitality was developed to elevate the on-site culinary experience for patrons and to deliver top-class special events. Retail operations branched out to include online sales, a remodel of The Keeneland Shop and the opening of Keeneland Mercantile to establish a presence for Thoroughbred racing in downtown Lexington. Customer service reached new levels with construction of a Welcome Center, creation of a Keeneland Tour Program and participation in the formation of the popular Horse Country.

Keeneland also focused on its philanthropic mission by boosting such special events as Make-A-Wish Day and College Scholarship Day, expanding the charitable aspects of the Keeneland Kids Club, launching Keeneland Library's Oral History Project and strengthening its partnership with Maker's Mark on a commemorative bottle series that has generated millions of dollars for Central Kentucky organizations and the horse industry. Keeneland collaborated with Cross Gate Gallery to create the Sporting Art Auction to benefit the Keeneland Foundation and with AC Entertainment to inaugurate the Railbird music festival.

During this period, Keeneland also was named among the best places to work by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management.

Arvin brings years of service to the Lexington community and the Thoroughbred industry

A Lexington native, Arvin has deep ties to the Central Kentucky community and the horse industry.

In addition to her aforementioned affiliations, Arvin currently serves as Secretary of Horse Country, Director of Kentucky Bank and Director of The Lexington School; is Chair and Director of Bluegrass Care Navigators (formerly Hospice of the Bluegrass) and is Past President of the Thoroughbred Club of America.

“Shannon is all in for Keeneland and for Lexington; she has a tremendous knowledge of and love for the community,” Juddmonte Farms General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. “In my early days at Juddmonte, I worked very closely with her Dad, who I loved. She and her Dad are very much alike, both wise and smart, and that is the biggest compliment I could give her. But more than anything else, her history and her roots in Keeneland are what make it the absolute glove fit. It couldn't be a more obvious or perfect choice, and I am delighted for her and for Keeneland.”

Arvin graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a B.A. in Political Science, International Studies, with High Honors. She graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2002.

Arvin and her husband, Will, have two daughters, Bishop and McCutchen.

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Trainer Dale Romans To Appear On Breeders’ Cup Cocktails & Conversation Broadcast This Thursday

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, today announces special guest Dale Romans for this week's installment of Cocktails & Conversation, the recurring virtual happy hour series designed to rally the horse racing industry's most prominent figures to raise funds for communities that have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19.

The next Cocktails & Conversation broadcast, airing Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m. ET via Breeders' Cup's Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages, will mark the 12th installment of the series. The episode will be hosted by Nick Luck and Britney Eurton of NBC Sports and 21 Club mixologist and creator of Breeders' Cup's official cocktails Mark Tubridy.

Thursday's virtual happy hour will feature Romans, who has entered Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze in Saturday's (July 4) 1-mile, $500,000 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. A Louisville native, Romans has steadily risen up the ranks of great American trainers since receiving his training license at age 18. Romans won the first of his three Breeders' Cup World Championships races in 2009, when Tapitsfly captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

In 2011, Romans won the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Shackleford, and later that year captured the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) with 64-1 Court Vision. Romans had a banner season in 2012, amassing more than $11.8 million in total earnings and winning 125 races. He captured the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) with Little Mike, the Metropolitan Handicap with Shackleford and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and TVG Pacific Classic (G1) with Dullahan. As a result of these achievements, Romans was voted the Champion Trainer Eclipse Award.

In 2015, the Romans-trained Keen Ice upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Romans will have one of the favorites with Mr Freeze in Saturday's Met Mile, which will be broadcast live on NBC (5-6 p.m. ET) as a part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing.” The winner of Saturday's race will earn an automatic starting position into this year's $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Thursday's live stream will commence with Tubridy leading a virtual mixology class for viewers, creating two refreshing cocktails to enjoy at home during the broadcast. Mark will be mixing up a “Watermelon Martini,” consisting of Tito's Handmade Vodka, watermelon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup; and a “Bourbon Peach Colada,” with Maker's Mark ® Bourbon, frozen peaches, cream of coconut and lemon juice.

Following the cocktail mixing segment, the broadcast will feature a conversational interview with Romans, who will offer his insightful perspectives and thoughts on Mr Freeze, the latest developments in horse racing and other everyday topics. Fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and for Romans to answer during the broadcast for a truly interactive experience. Throughout the cocktail hour, viewers will be encouraged to donate to industry workers and communities in need through the official Breeders' Cup website.

Tapping all-star talents such as world-renowned jockeys Frankie Dettori and Mike Smith; leading Breeders' Cup-winning trainers Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Graham Motion and Todd Pletcher; NHL All-Star Erik Johnson; restauranteur and celebrity Chef Bobby Flay; film and television actress and equestrian rider Bo Derek; owner Jeff Bloom; trainer Tom Amoss; television personality and fashion designer Carson Kressley; and the NBC Sports' horse racing broadcasting team, Breeders' Cup has raised thousands of dollars through previous broadcasts.

All proceeds generated from Cocktails & Conversation are wholly donated to the following organizations benefitting the horse racing and hospitality industries:

Race Track Chaplaincy of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the horse racing community through social services, food and clothing banks and educational workshops.
USBG National Charity Foundation, which supports bartenders, barbacks and bar servers throughout the nation who have been financially impacted by restaurant and bar shutdowns as a result of the health crisis.
Restaurant Workers Relief Program, a project jointly formed by Maker's Mark and the Lee Initiative that has transformed restaurants in major cities into relief centers that offer food and supplies to affected hospitality workers.

To learn more about the virtual happy hour series and to support those in need, please visit https://www.breederscup.com/convos.

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