trainer | Horse Racing Free Tips

With Prairie Meadows opening for horse racing Friday, the Iowa HBPA is offering two programs to help out its members feeling the economic squeeze from COVID-19 shutdowns.

Trainers can apply to receive up to $100 per Thoroughbred racehorse stabled at Prairie Meadows under the COVID-19 Horsemen's Assistance Program. The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. CT June 30.

In addition, the Iowa HBPA created the COVID-19 Dorm Room Assistance Program to help trainers cover expenses incurred during the pandemic while moving their operation to Prairie Meadows. Thoroughbred trainers may receive a loan of up to $300 per dorm room for their stable employees. Recipients agree to repay the money to the Iowa HBPA by Dec. 15, 2020.

“It boils down to free money and an interest-free loan,” said Iowa HBPA president Dave McShane. “We encourage all our Thoroughbred horsemen to apply for these programs. I don't know a trainer who can't use an extra $100 per horse, especially as a bridge until we're able to get into a stretch of unimpeded racing.”

Program applicants must be members of the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents Thoroughbred owners and trainers racing in the Hawkeye State.

“Trainers incur considerable expenses every time they ship to the next town,” said Iowa HBPA executive director Jon Moss. “We are trying to help defray those costs, which have been exacerbated by the health and economic emergency. Given the difficult spring with many tracks shut down for long stretches, a lot horsemen don't have on hand the extra hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars needed to secure dorm rooms for their grooms and hotwalkers. So we're providing interest-free loans to assist with that up-front money needed to provide on-track housing for our horsemen's employees.”

More information and application forms

Prairie Meadows' thoroughbred and quarter-horse meet runs Friday through Oct. 11.

The post Iowa HBPA Creates Two Assistance Programs For Trainers Impacted By Covid-19 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Billy Turner, best known for his masterful handling of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, suffered a freak accident in April that left him in the hospital with a broken neck, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. The 80-year-old retired from racing in 2016, but was mowing around the Ocala Jockey Club in Reddick, Fla., when he ran over a branch that struck him in the back of the neck.

Once hospitalized, Turner discovered he also had prostate cancer which had spread to his bones. The hit to his head also caused a brain injury. After surgery to repair his neck and nearly two months in the hospital, Turner was finally released to head home. Doctors are focusing on the neck and brain injuries before they are able to treat the cancer.

“He's doing remarkably well and his mental state is surprisingly good,” his wife, Patti Turner, told the Thoroughbred Daily News. “His injury was way more serious than just a broken neck. He was in rehab for four, five weeks learning to walk. He had a serious injury to his brain. His brain wasn't communicating with his body for balance and he even lost his ability to swallow. He has recovered from that. He can talk and eat. We started the GoFundMe campaign because he needs serious professional nursing care in the home to get over this hump. If he can get several months of really good care we think he can move forward.”

A friend and neighbor, Rick Wallace, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help Turner cover his ongoing medical expenses.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Billy Turner, Trainer Of Triple Crown Winner Seattle Slew, Recovering From Broken Neck appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post