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Adena Pensioners Awesome Again, Milwaukee Brew, Move to Old Friends

Former Adena Springs stallions Awesome Again and Milwaukee Brew have been transferred to the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm, according to a press release sent from Old Friends Friday afternoon.

The announcement follows on the heels of the relocation from Adena Springs of three sires announced last Saturday–Awesome Again’s Ghostzapper, Mucho Macho Man, and Point of Entry–who were moved to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm’s new Xalapa facility to stand at stud.

Awesome Again and Milwaukee Brew were pensioned from stud duty in 2019.

Awesome Again, now 27, retired after an undefeated season at four that included five graded stakes victories, including the GI Stephen Foster H., the Whitney H, and one of the most memorable editions of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic where he rallied in the stretch to get the win over Grade I winners Skip Away, Silver Charm, Arch, Gentlemen (Arg), Coronado’s Quest, Touch Gold, Swain (Ire) and Victory Gallop.

As significant in the breeding shed as he was on the track, Awesome Again sired two champions: Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older horse; and Ginger Punch, the 2007 champion older mare. The Hall of Fame inductee Ghostzapper is one of the 14 Grade I winners, 13 millionaires and four Breeders’ Cup Champions that Awesome Again has produced. Ghostzapper’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic made his sire the first Classic winner to also sire a Classic winner. He was pensioned after 21 years at stud.

Milwaukee Brew, 23, earned eight wins in his 24 starts and is best known for his back-to-back victories in the 2002 and 2003 GI Santa Anita H. He stood at Adena Springs North, near Ontario, and his top runners include Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Milwaukee Appeal, and Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Ginger Brew.

The new stallions will join Adena’s Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup, who were retired to Old Friends in 2015.

“We’re very grateful to Frank and Belinda and everyone at The Stronach Group for trusting us with these two great Thoroughbreds,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “The Stronachs have always been extremely generous when it comes to supporting their retirees. When Alphabet Soup’s cancer needed special attention, Frank made sure all of his medical bills were taken care of. And I adore Awesome Again’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic even though he beat (Old Friends resident) Silver Charm.”

“When it comes to Awesome Again and Milwaukee Brew, they are two of the best-natured stallions I’ve been blessed to work with,” said Adena Springs Stallion Manager Bill Drury. “When it came time to consider retirement settlements, if not my own backyard, there was no place I would rather they be than with Michael at Old Friends. His has a reputation of exemplary care, and the fan access is exactly what these champions deserve in their twilight years.”

Old Friends said that in addition, in the coming weeks, a third Adena stallion, Silver Max, will be pensioned with Old Friends. Silver Max is perhaps best known for ending reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan’s nine-race win streak with his upset win in the 2013 GII Shadwell Turf Mile S. at Keeneland. He retired in 2014 with 12 wins from 27 starts and over $1.9 million in earnings.

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Agreement In Place For Turf Paradise Meeting

Representatives of the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) and the management of Turf Paradise in north Phoenix have signed an agreement that will allow for 84 days of live racing at the track beginning Jan. 1, 2020 and running through May 4, 2021.

The Arizona Racing Commission was to meet in special session Oct. 30 to approve the dates after a disagreement in the wording of the agreement between the two parties led to a 24-hour delay in submitting the plan to the ARC. The Commission will also consider contracts for simulcasting of next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup programs at Keeneland. The request for the approval of the 84-day meeting will now be scheduled for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the ARC Nov. 12.

“Many thanks to Arizona Racing Director Rudy Casillas for hosting the forum for dialogue between the two parties,” said Turf Paradise’s General Manager Vincent Francia. “An equal amount of thanks to AZHBPA President Bob Hutton and track owner Jerry Simms for committing to dialogue until everything was resolved. Now, it’s time to race. “There’s a lot to do in a short time, but we’ll be ready.”

Racing will take place five days a week from Monday to Friday with post time at 12:30 p.m. local time. The lone exception is Kentucky Derby day May 1. Horsepeople will begin arriving Nov. 19 to prepare their barns, with horses to follow Nov. 25. The first conditions book and stakes schedule can be found at www.turfparadise.com.

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PETA Buys Stock in Racetracks

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a longtime critic of many of the practices in horse racing, has purchased stock in four companies which own racetracks–VICI Properties, Boyd Gaming, Penn National Gaming, and Gaming and Leisure Properties—in order to make their case in the boardroom, according to a press release from the organization.

The release says that, “PETA’s proposed changes include replacing dirt tracks with high-quality synthetic ones, banning trainers who have multiple medication violations, and banning whipping. Tracks will be encouraged to work with state racing authorities when necessary.”

It was unclear exactly how much stock PETA had purchased. The companies collectively own Mountaineer Park, Charles Town, Thistledown, Belterra, Mahoning Valley Racecourse, Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs, Retama Park, Sam Houston, Zia Park, The Meadows, and Penn National.

While not saying so directly, PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo hinted that the organization was pleased with the recently concluded Santa Anita meeting, where there were no training or racing fatalities.

“Track owners in California and Kentucky are changing their rules and sparing horses a gruesome death, and every track owner in every racing state needs to do the same,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “PETA is eager to get inside the boardroom and push racetracks to make simple changes that will make a world of difference for vulnerable horses.”

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Change to New York Breeding Fund Mare Rules

The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYTBDF)’s board of directors announced Friday the adoption of new rules concerning the residency requirements for dams of New York-bred foals, including certain mares purchased at public auction on or after Nov. 1, 2019.

Under the new rules, a resident mare is a mare continuously in residence in the state of New York from date of conception in New York or within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception occurring outside of New York and that remains in the state until foaling the following year, with no breed-back required. Mares that maintain their New York state resident status can be covered each season by a stallion located anywhere in the world.

Under the new rules, a non-resident mare purchased in foal through public auction will be deemed to be a resident mare for all purposes if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction, (2) the mare is present in the state of New York within 15 days after the sale is concluded, (3) the foal from public auction mare is foaled in New York and (4) the mare thereafter is continuously in residence in New York from within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception of another foal and remains in residency until foaling.

“These changes will bring the New York Thoroughbred Breeding Program more in line with other states by removing perceived barriers to mares locating here,” said Breeding Fund Chairman John Poklemba. “Also, by allowing high-priced mares to establish residency by moving to New York after they are purchased at auction, we expect to see even more quality New York-breds following in the hoofprints of Grade I winners such as Tiz the Law and Simply Ravishing.”

It is anticipated that these new rules will become final upon publication in the State Register of New York on or about Nov. 18 and shall have retroactive effect with regard to eligible mares purchased at public auction occurring on or after Nov. 1, 2019.

“The Board can review the threshold price annually at its summer meeting and adjust it up or down as needed to recruit quality mares,” said Breeding Fund Executive Director Tracy Egan.

One year after adoption, the Fund and New York Racing Association (NYRA) will begin providing up to $650,000 per year in purse bonuses to owners. The bonus will be $5,000 every time a New York-sired New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance level at NYRA’s tracks.

While the measure adopted by the Breeding Fund’s board starts in November 2019, in practice the new rules would become effective starting with the mixed sales in November 2020 and the foal and breeding seasons of 2021.

For more information and a complete description, click here.

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