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New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Raises $150,000

After an uncertain, challenging and virtual 2020, the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show, Presented by Iris Smith Stables, LLC, returned to an in-person competition and raised a record-breaking $150,000 in sponsorships. All proceeds from the event will go directly to support New Vocations' efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses.

The 18th annual show—held for the first time at Highfields Event Center, in Aiken, SC, Sept. 3-5—was an exciting and successful return to live events for New Vocations after a quiet past 18 months due to COVID-19. The competition brought together nearly 100 Thoroughbreds from 10 different states to compete in a variety of disciplines including dressage, hunter, jumper, Western and pleasure classes.

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“We were thrilled that we were able to far surpass our goal of raising $100,000 through the support of our generous long-term and new sponsors,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director. “The new venue meant that we were able to put on a more intimate event, which allowed exhibitors extra opportunities to connect and share their love for Thoroughbreds. It was so rewarding to look across four competition arenas full of horses knowing that while they have rich racing bloodlines and histories, they now have new skills, new careers, and new purposes.”

Show highlights included:

Winner of the War Horse W/T/C was Bail Bondsman, shown by Karen Morgan. Bail Bondsman, a 2009 Kentucky-bred gelding by Bellamy Road, raced 44 times and earned $106,499
Winner of the Open Hunter Derby was Blame it on Texas, shown by Elisabeth Demars. Blame it on Texas, a 2012 Kentucky-bred gelding by Blame, raced 12 times and earned $12,788
Winner of the Open Jumper Stake was Ballerino, shown by Susan Sisco. Ballerino, a 2008 Florida-bred gelding by Lido Place (CHI), raced 15 times and earned $38,709
Winner of the Dressage High Score was Big Iron, shown by junior rider Mayela Salazar. Big Iron, a 2015 son of Caleb's Posse, raced 29 times and earned $65,281

At the show's inaugural exhibitor party, New Vocations also handed out several special awards recognizing:

The Thoroughbred that earned the most money racing: Two Notch Road, $536,193
The most recently raced Thoroughbred: Jammin Jamie, 6/28/2021
The Thoroughbred with the most starts: Mind Magic, 58 starts
The youngest Thoroughbred competing: Jammin Jamie, 2/20/2018
The oldest Thoroughbred competing: Bold Estela, 3/22/1994
The Thoroughbred sold for the highest auction price: Ditka, $500,000

The groups that traveled the farthest to compete: horses and riders from Sugar Creek Equinapy, in Harrisonville, MO, and North Country Horses, in Gansevoort, NY, hauled 974 miles and 956 miles, respectively.

“We were so glad to, once again, be able to celebrate the Thoroughbred with a weekend full of competition, fun and horses,” Ford said. “We're excited to get started on plans for what we hope can be an even better 2022 event.”

TVG ‘Friends Month’ Promo Raises Over $44,700 For Old Friends Retirees

As hundreds of horseplayers will try to renew their racing luck wagering through TVG for the first time, the retired racehorses at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., are already winners.

Marketing experts at TVG have long found success with their 'refer a friend' program, which delivers existing users a personalized sign-up link and then gives them a bonus if a friend uses their link to open a new account. This summer, FanDuel Vice President of Racing Andrew Moore believed the program could use a new twist.

“As people have been getting to see friends again, we were ideating on how to give the program an extra push for August and the outcome was Friends Month,” said Moore. “Bringing Old Friends Farm in was a natural fit, so not only would we give a referral bonus to you when the friend you referred signed up to TVG, but we would also give to Old Friends. This is a great cause and it was a fun way for racing fans not only to give to their friends, but also to raise money for their retired racing friends they have so much affection for.”

Moore and the TVG team hoped for 400 referrals in the month of August, which would have raised $20,000 for Old Friends. They were surprised when the program brought in 894 referrals for a total of $44,700 in donations.

“Credit must go to our marketing team and the talent on the TVG network who really got behind the promotion but of course the biggest thanks goes to all the fans who supported it,” said Moore.

If TVG was pleasantly surprised by the results, Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen was ecstatic.

“It was amazing, and it was all their idea,” said Blowen. “TVG has been great to us, I have to say. Most of the broadcasters on TVG have been to the farm. When a horse is running in a race and is named after one of our horses, they'll talk about the Old Friends connection and show pictures of the farm.

“You put away the tin cup and good things happen.”

The tie-in was all the more poetic for Blowen, given his entry to racing as a horseplayer himself.

“I got into this because I love handicapping,” he said. “I love watching TVG, so it was perfect.”

Blowen said he already has plans for the windfall — the farm will use the money to construct a new paddock, which will be named after TVG and dedicated to “hard-knocking geldings” like the ones favored by TVG commentators. As always, Blowen says he has a waiting list of horses preparing to retire to Old Friends, and as always, he's as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve about every one of them — particularly Zulu Alpha, whose retirement was announced officially on Friday.

“I'm hoping when everybody's here for Keeneland, we can get some of the men and women over here for a special presentation with a sign and the check,” said Blowen. “Couldn't come at a better time, either. I've got this one spot picked out that's really nice.”

Old Friends is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited facility founded in 2003 and remains one of few retirement organizations equipped to house intact stallions whose breeding careers are finished. The organization now encompasses a 236-acre main campus and over 200 retirees.

The many Old Friends fans at TVG all have a favorite retiree somewhere on the property. For Moore, it's Soi Phet.

“What a fun horse!” he said.

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Delaware Stewards Issue Summary Suspension Against Cobb, Alleging A Host Of Rule Violations

On Sept. 10, Delaware stewards summarily suspended embattled trainer Amber Cobb, citing a lengthy list of violations of Delaware regulations. Per Delaware rules, summarily suspended licensees have three racing days in which to appeal the summary suspension; a hearing held during this time would deal only with whether the summary suspension will be ongoing, pending a disciplinary hearing to deal with evidence of rules violations. A disciplinary hearing would follow separately.

Cobb came under scrutiny this summer, when a former employee filmed two incidents between Cobb and a young filly on a training center in New Jersey and brought the video to Delaware stewards as evidence of improper or inhumane treatment of a horse in violation of Delaware rules. Stewards handed Cobb a two-year suspension for the incident, and Cobb appealed that ruling. Her suspension was later reduced to 60 days by the members of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.

Read more about that appeal hearing, and see a video of the incident in question here.

The 60-day suspension issued by the commission is scheduled to end Sept. 20.

Below is the text of the Sept. 10 ruling, listing the rules the stewards allege she has violated. Cobb is denied access to commission grounds, pending a hearing on the summary suspension.

2.5.1.20. Past or contemplated conduct or utterance which, does or may adversely affect, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and whether in fact or only seemingly, the public's confidence in the reputation Thoroughbred racing heretofore has enjoyed in Delaware for stringent adherence to uncompromising standards of honesty, integrity and propriety.

18.3.1. Based upon the report and advice of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau premised upon its investigation and/or information available to it from governmental or other investigative sources or, based upon their own investigation and determination, either the Commission, the Stewards or the Licensee may bar or eject any person, permanently or for a lesser period, from Licensee's grounds or any part thereof who, by reason of his or her past or contemplated conduct or associations is, or would be, in any direct or indirect way detrimental to the continued maintenance and promotion of high standards for honesty, integrity and propriety in all Thoroughbred racing conducted in Delaware.

2.5.1.22 Drug addiction, public drunkenness, financial irresponsibility or failure to pay debts when due, bad moral character, intemperate habits, bad reputation for honesty, truth and veracity, past instance of lying, cheating, or stealing, or involvement in a subject of public notice as involved in any activity which, would be inconsistent with the best interests of racing by reflection on the honesty and integrity of the sport of racing, or association with persons so characterized.

2.5 Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of a Permit.

2.5.1 The Commission in its discretion, may refuse to register or to issue an authorization or permit to an applicant, or may suspend or revoke a registration, permit, or authorization previously issued, or order disciplinary measures, on the following grounds.

2.5.1.1 Denial of a license, permit, authorization or registration to an applicant, or suspension or revocation of such, in another racing jurisdiction at any previous time.

2.5.1.4 Failure to comply with any order or ruling of the Commission, Stewards, or Racing Official pertaining to a racing matter.

2.5.1.8 Intoxication, use of profanity, fighting, or any conduct of a disorderly nature, on Licensee's grounds.

2.5.1.9 Employment or harboring of unauthorized persons required by these Rules to register or have a permit or authorization.

2.5.1.12 Possession on Licensee's grounds by a person other than a licensed Veterinarian of:

2.5.1.12.1 Hypodermic needle, or hypodermic syringe, or other device which could be used to administer any substance to a horse.

2.5.1.14 Cruelty to a horse or neglect of a horse entrusted to a permittee's care.

7.3 Duties and Responsibilities:

7.3.1 A registered Trainer shall bear primary responsibility for the proper care, health, training, condition, safety and protection against administration of prohibited drugs or medication of horses in his charge.

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New Vocations Charity Show Raises $150K

The New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show, Presented by Iris Smith Stables, LLC, raised a record-breaking $150,000 in sponsorships. All proceeds from the event will go directly to support New Vocations' efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses.

The 18th annual show–held for the first time at Highfields Event Center, in Aiken, SC, Sept. 3-5–marked a return to live events for New Vocations after a quiet past 18 months due to COVID-19. The competition brought together nearly 100 Thoroughbreds from 10 different states to compete in a variety of disciplines including dressage, hunter, jumper, western and pleasure classes.

The post New Vocations Charity Show Raises $150K appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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