Top News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Vaccarezza Raises $40K for Tornado Relief

Carlo Vaccarezza helped raise $40,000 to support Tornado relief efforts in Kentucky when he hosted a fundraiser at his Frank & Dino's restaurant in Lexington Sunday. Vaccarezza offered complimentary food and drinks from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the popular Italian eatery on W. Short Street, while patrons were encouraged to make donations to help families effected by tornadoes which ripped through Western Kentucky Dec. 11 and destroyed over 1,000 homes and buildings. Following Sunday's event, Vaccarezza issued a $40,000 check to the Kentucky State Treasurer Monday morning.

The post Vaccarezza Raises $40K for Tornado Relief appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Stephanie Brennan Joins TRF Board

Stephanie Brennan has been elected to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Board of Directors. The TRF board provides leadership for carrying out the Foundation's mission to provide sanctuary for retired racehorses no longer able to compete on the racetrack and to save them from possible neglect, abuse and slaughter.

“Once again the TRF has hit a home run by adding Stephanie to the Board,” said Patrick Mackay, President and Chairman of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. “We welcome and look forward with great enthusiasm to her sharing her firsthand knowledge and expertise in Thoroughbred aftercare for the betterment of our herd.”

A resident of Ocala, Florida, Brennan served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Niall Brennan Stables and in 2009 founded Final Furlong, LLC, a Thoroughbred retirement initiative solely for graduates of Niall Brennan Stables and through that organization has rehomed nearly 200 off-the-track Thoroughbreds.

“I am excited to be a part of the TRF,” said Brennan. “As a strong supporter of aftercare, I am particularly interested in the liaison between the TRF and the correctional systems. It creates a world of opportunities for both equines and inmates to have hope for a better future.”

The post Stephanie Brennan Joins TRF Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

2-Time BC Champ Da Hoss Dies at 30

Dual GI Breeders' Cup Mile Winner, Da Hoss (Gone West–Jolly Saint, by Welsh Saint) died at the Kentucky Horse Park Jan. 2. At the age of 30, the gelding passed away due to infirmities of old age. Da Hoss had been living at the Kentucky Horse Park since January 2000.

“We will miss Da Hoss greatly. He was a fan favorite as he proved that spirit can triumph over adversity,” said Nicole Rivera, Interim Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “I would like to extend a special thank you to Rob Willis and the Hall of Champions staff for the great care and affection they showed Da Hoss during his time here at the park.”

Foaled on Jan. 18, 1992, Wall Street Racing Da Hoss as a Keeneland September yearling for $6,000. After racing as a 2-year-old for trainer Kevin Eikleberry and Wall Street Racing, an 85% interest in Da Hoss was sold to Prestonwood Farm. He was shipped to Fair Hill training center to start training with Michael Dickinson and Joan Wakefield.

Only one five horses to win the Breeders' Cup Mile twice, and the only horse to win twice in non-consecutive years, Da Hoss annexed the turf test in 1996 and 1998, the second after returning from an injury. His inspiring finish in the 1998 Mile produced one of Tom Durkin's most memorable race calls, as he exclaimed: “The greatest comeback since Lazarus!”

Added trainer Michael Dickinson of Tapeta Farm, “We all loved him. He was our horse of a lifetime. He brought us so many highs, even with his problems, we knew he would never let us down. He gave his all and loved to win. He was spoiled but deserved to be. He loved going out in one of his grass fields with his best friend Boomer for two or three hours every day. He knew he was special. It was comforting to know he was always well looked after by everyone at the Kentucky Horse Park where he enjoyed a wonderful retirement.”

Da Hoss shared the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions with other Champion horses, including Thoroughbreds Go For Gin, Funny Cide and Point Given, Standardbred pacers Western Dreamer and Won the West, and Standardbred trotter Mr. Muscleman.

Da Hoss will be buried in the Memorial Walk of Champions.

The post 2-Time BC Champ Da Hoss Dies at 30 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Letter to the Editor: Steve Venosa

You've all heard this song before, I'm sure, but humor me. I was co-owner of a horse who was running at Turfway Park last week. So I sent the requisite information to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to get licensed in the state before the horse ran Dec. 31. In speaking with a woman in the office, I was asked if I wanted to get a one-year or two-year license. Since I don't often run horses, I decided on the shorter option only to be told my “one-year” license would only be good for the one remaining day of 2021. So my choices were to pay for a one-year license that would be good for one day or pay for a two-year license I don't need. I politely pointed out to the woman that this made very little sense and she agreed with me, but told me there was nothing she could do. I know we have plenty of problems in our industry–and this probably isn't near the top of the list–but if we can't get stuff like this right, how can we possibly handle the big stuff?

Steve Venosa, SGV Thoroughbreds

The post Letter to the Editor: Steve Venosa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post