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Keeneland Begins Countdown to Breeders’ Cup

Keeneland began its official countdown to this year's Breeders' Cup at Tandy Park in Lexington Thursday at a ceremony attended by Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin, Breeders' Cup Festival Chair Kip Cornett, and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winning trainer Brad Cox.

“We're excited to officially begin our countdown to the 39th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships this fall in our hometown of Lexington,” said Fleming. “We're so grateful to work alongside leaders like Mayor Gorton, our friends at Keeneland, and so many others throughout the Lexington community to ensure that this year's World Championships and Festival are the best in Breeders' Cup history.”

Keeneland will be hosting championship weekend for the third time in 2022. It was first held at the Lexington oval in 2015 and returned in 2020.

“Lexington is excited to step back into the international spotlight as we again host the Breeders' Cup,” Gorton said. “This year, the Breeders' Cup will crown racing's true champions in the Horse Capital of the World at the best track in the world, Keeneland. Join us for a celebration that our international visitors and our local residents will enjoy.”

Arvin added, “Keeneland is excited to kick off the countdown to Breeders' Cup this fall, and to share this great international championship with our fans. The Thoroughbred industry is so important to the Lexington community, and we thank our friends at Breeders' Cup, Mayor Gorton and leaders throughout the city for their enthusiasm and support. We look forward to welcoming fans and racing participants from around the world to Lexington to celebrate the Breeders' Cup in a way this event richly deserves.”

Tickets for the 2022 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland will go on sale to the public May 9, at Noon ET at BreedersCup.com/Tickets. Attendance will be capped at 45,000. Fans who purchased 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championship tickets, when the event was impacted by the pandemic, were able to repurchase the same or similar seats for 2022. The Breeders' Cup Ticketing office has contacted 2020 purchasers about how to secure seats at the 2022 World Championships. 2020 ticket purchasers who have not yet received communication from the Breeders' Cup Ticketing office should email tickets@breederscup.com or call (859) 514-9428.

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Franco, Velazquez Fined for Misjudging Oaklawn Finish

The riders of both the winner and the fourth-place horse in a $108,0000 allowance race on last Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby undercard both were fined for apparently forgetting that mile races at Oaklawn Park end at the sixteenth pole and not the traditional finish wire.

Geovanni Franco and John Velazquez each were assessed $200 fines from the Oaklawn stewards on Thursday for “misjudging the wire and striking his horse after the finish of the fourth race at Oaklawn Park on April 2, 2022.”

Franco was on the lead for most of the race aboard Background (Khozan) while Velazquez rallied from the back aboard Title Ready (More Than Ready). Background opened up late under urging to win by 1 1/4 lengths, while Title Ready was involved in a blanket finish whose 2-3-4 horses were separated by margins of a nose and two necks.

Although Oaklawn's pan shot of the replay doesn't show the immediate aftermath of the finish, the head-on shot reveals Franco whipping right-handed several times and riding hard almost to the traditional finish line while Velazquez delivers a single right-handed crack while also hustling his mount. Other riders shown in the frame are already easing up their horses.

Franco has ridden regularly at Oaklawn this meet while Velazquez has shipped in for stakes engagements. It was not immediately clear if either rider would be appealing.

Although this sort of misjudgment penalty has sporadically been imposed at Oaklawn over the years, it's always a bit more noticeable when it occurs on a big race day with a leading national jockey involved.

On the undercard of the 2021 Arkansas Derby, jockey Joel Rosario was fined $200 for misjudging the short-stretch finish aboard the 9-5 favorite Rushie (Liam's Map), who lost the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile S. by a nose.

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Fishman Asks for Sentencing Delay

The veterinarian Seth Fishman, who is currently incarcerated at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being convicted Feb. 2 on two felony counts in an international performance-enhancing drug (PED) racehorse doping conspiracy, had his lawyer ask a federal judge on Thursday to push back his May 5 sentencing because he is having trouble filling out required paperwork.

Fishman is facing 20 years in prison, and he also has an active motion before the same judge asking for the first of his two convicted counts to be dismissed on the basis that he was allegedly charged twice for the same crime.

According to a one-page letter filed Apr. 7 by attorney Maurice Sercarz in United States District Court (Southern District of New York), Fishman “did not receive the financial forms that he must fill out prior to sentencing until the last week in March. Dr. Fishman's financial circumstances are complex and he does not have access to all of the records he needs in order to properly fill out the forms.”

The letter continued: “The Probation Department informs me that without Dr. Fishman's financial records, they cannot provide me with a draft Presentence Report. Thus, Probation was unable to provide the requisite draft Presentence Report (PSR) within 35 days of the May 5, 2022, sentencing date pursuant [to federal rules].

“Accordingly, I am requesting an adjournment of Dr. Fishman's sentencing date for approximately three weeks. This should afford him adequate time to complete the financial reporting requirements as best he can under the circumstances, and put us back on track to have the PSR disclosure process completed in time for sentencing.”

Sercarz wrote that he has informed federal prosecutors of the delay, and that they have no objection to the request to push back the sentencing.

Although a number of defendants named in the wide-ranging racehorse doping conspiracy pleaded guilty prior to Fishman, he was the first from a federal sweep of several dozen individuals indicted in 2020 to stand trial and to be found guilty by a jury.

Fishman's case has been notable thus far because of the breadth of his legal maneuverings and some courtroom drama, which included the Florida-based veterinarian being inexplicably absent from court during his sentencing. A cryptic comment from Fishman's attorney to the judge during closing arguments led to speculation that Fishman had to be hospitalized.

In December 2021, the judge in Fishman's case modified his bail conditions after federal prosecutors alleged he was still selling PEDs while awaiting trial.

And in January 2022, one week before his trial was scheduled to start, Fishman had unsuccessfully asked the judge to delay the trial over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Virtual Conference Highlights Pedigrees, Conformation

The 2022 Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual series continued Apr. 5 with a panel who discussed pedigree and conformation considerations when selecting racehorses. The series is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Sponsored by Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS), Tuesday's session was moderated by Caton Bredar and included panelists Phil Hager, Taproot Bloodstock; Chad Schumer, Schumer Bloodstock Agency; Gayle Van Leer, Gayle Van Leer Thoroughbred Services; and Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales, OBS.

Highlights of the webinar include how to read five-cross pedigrees and catalog pages, the importance of a horse's female family and conformational flaws and how they can affect a horse's potential as a racehorse. Additionally, conversation included the role of veterinarians in sales inspection, selection and purchases, the importance of a good airway and the different tools available to assist in the purchasing process.

The next session of the virtual owner conference is a veterinary panel and will be held on Tuesday, May 10, at 2 p.m. ET. Sponsored by Mersant International LTD and OCD Pellets, the session will be moderated by Mike Penna of Horse Racing Radio Network and include Dr. Larry Bramlage, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital; Dr. Lisa Fortier, Cornell University; and Dr. Steve Reed, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

This year, OwnerView will also host an in-person conference in Saratoga Springs, New York, July 25-26.

Registration information for both the in-person and virtual conferences can be found at www.ownerview.com/event/conference.

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