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Art Collector to Miss Kentucky Derby

Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector (Bernardini) will not run in Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby because of a minor foot issue, according to trainer Tommy Drury Tuesday. He said the winner of Keeneland’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby in his last two starts nicked the bulb of his left front heel with a hind hoof while galloping Monday at Churchill Downs. Because of horse racing strict medication rules, the horse could not be treated with an anti-inflammatory this close to the race.

“He grabbed himself [Monday] morning training,” Drury said. “It was still very sensitive this morning. When I took my thumbs to palpate the bulbs of his heels, you could still tell it was pinching him. I had to make a choice. Your horse has to always come first. To run in a race of this caliber and trying to compete against the best 3-year-olds in this country, you’ve got to be 110%. To me, it wouldn’t have been fair to Art Collector, even though it’s slight, knowing that there’s an issue of any kind. I had a meeting yesterday afternoon with my veterinarians, Foster Northrup, Rick Costelle, had my blacksmith there. We discussed some different scenarios. We maybe could have put a bar shoe on it and stabilized it and he would have been fine. But you’re going to the Kentucky Derby. First and foremost, as the trainer, it’s my responsibility to be the voice for the horse. That’s just not fair to him [to run]. He’s been too good to us, and we’re going to make sure he’s taken care of first.”

Art Collector arrived at Drury’s Skylight training base in Oldham County, Kentucky Tuesday morning.

“I knew after we gave him a little anti-inflammatory this morning that he’d be perfectly sound,” he said. “That’s not surprising at all. And that’s what we wanted to see. We wanted to see him respond well to it, and it looks like that’s what happened. On to Baltimore.”

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HBPA ‘Never Consulted’ on New Version of Integrity Act

Six hours after an Aug. 31 press conference at which United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other proponents of a federal bill announced newly achieved compromise among industry stakeholders in crafting new anti-doping oversight for horse racing, Eric Hamelback, the CEO of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), told TDN that his organization is actually not on board with the plan.

Hamelback’s emailed clarification was in response to a request for comment from TDN that did not arrive in time to be included in the original version of this story.

Much of the context of Monday’s press conference at Keeneland to announce the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HSIA) bill that McConnell intends to file in September was based around the terms “compromise,” “consensus” and “bringing everybody together.” This was an especially salient point because two previous industry holdouts to the concept of federal legislation, Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) and the NHBPA, were being billed as having now lent their support to the new version of the bill.

About two minutes before the conclusion of the press conference, U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), who co-chairs the Congressional Horse Caucus and has co-sponsored three previous versions of the Horseracing Integrity Act (2015, 2017, 2019) thanked CDI (which did have a representative at the event affirming support) for “joining the cause.” Barr then specifically praised trainer Dale Romans for working with his coalition, and he saluted the NHBPA for sharing an “influential voice in support of this legislation.”

Hamelback’s statement to TDN took umbrage with that characterization. It reads, in full:

“Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his plans to introduce legislation that purports to set national standards to promote fairness, transparency, and increased safety in Thoroughbred racing.

“Senator McConnell claims to have found compromise within the industry, yet no representative horsemen’s groups, horseplayers or veterinary leadership organizations seem to have been consulted in the collaboration. The National HBPA represents close to 30,000 owners and trainers who want nothing more than increased safety and integrity to secure the strength of the business and our industry.

“The greatest concern of the National HBPA is protecting the health and safety of horses. If Senator McConnell is serious about hearing from tens of thousands of real Kentuckians, as well as horsemen across the country, we stand ready to meet with him. We certainly hope he will meet with us since those pushing this bill have mischaracterized the industry and our views in the past.

“As CEO, I can tell you we were never consulted on the recently announced Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. Contrary to an erroneous statement made by another elected official at today’s announcement, the HBPA was not made aware of any ‘compromise’ negotiations until a deal had already been reached, nor has the Board of the National HBPA even been asked for its support.

“Because the legislative text has not yet been released, the National HBPA will reserve final judgement, but we caution our elected leaders to not be misled by the wealthy few who continue to promote federal legislation in service to their own, private interests. Based on what we heard today, we are concerned these elite few continue to hold the reins.”

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California Legislature Approves Racing Safety Bill

The California Legislature voted Sunday night to approve a bill designed to improve horse racing safety in the state.

“We must do everything possible to make horse racing safer for animals and jockeys, and this bill takes another step in that direction,” Sen. Bill Dodd, sponsor of the bill, said in a statement released by his office Monday. “I thank the Legislature for approving my plan, which will help ensure track conditions are right and horses are fit before they hit the starting gate.”

Senate Bill 800 is expected to incorporate reforms recommended by the California Horse Racing Board, including improved veterinary medical review prior to races and increased transparency in drug testing. After passing the State Senate and Assembly Sunday night, the bill will head to Governor Gavin Newsom to sign.

Last year, in the wake of a series of equine fatalities at Santa Anita, Dodd introduced Senate Bill 469, which was signed by Gov. Newsom, allowing the California Horse Racing Board to suspend racing at tracks where perceived dangerous conditions exist.

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Max Player Works and Mr. Big News Added to Derby Line Up

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.’s Max Player (Honor Code) put in his final work ahead of Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby with an easy half-mile in :49.80 (26/50) Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The colt put up splits of :12.40 and :24.40 and galloped out in 1:02.80.

“He’s continuing to do well,” Steve Asmussen, who has taken over training duties from Linda Rice, said. “I’m extremely excited about how he’s going to run in the Kentucky Derby. I love how he looks going over the racetrack. His attitude is really good. He came in with a really good attitude and was moving really well. That has stayed the same.”

Max Player won the GIII Withers S. for the New York-based Rice in February and is coming off third-place efforts in the June 20 GI Belmont S. and Aug. 8 GI Travers S. He will be making his first start for Asmussen in the Derby.

“The reason he is here is to give him time to acclimate to the track and the surroundings to hopefully make up the difference,” Asmussen said. “He’s been third to Tiz the Law in his last two races. That horse is the deserving favorite and a tall task. You only have one chance to run in the Derby and we just wanted to do everything we could to give him his best chance.”

Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) has been added to the field of Derby contenders. Fifth in the Feb. 15 GII Risen Star S., he won the Apr. 11 Oaklawn S. and is coming off a sixth-place effort in the July 11 GII Toyota Blue Grass S.

“I know we don’t have some of the numbers like Tiz the Law, Art Collector and Honor A. P., but this horse is improving,” said owner Chester Thomas. “I think he is absolutely going to love the distance and will make a big run late.”

Trained by Bret Calhoun, Mr. Big News will be ridden by Gabriel Saez in the Derby. He worked five furlongs in 1:04.40 (2/2) at Churchill Downs Sunday.

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