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Trainer Appeals Fine, Suspension Issued After New Mexico Horse Mix-Up

Trainer Justin Evans and the horse identifier at the Downs at Albuquerque have both been fined for a horse mix-up that occurred during a maiden special weight race on Aug. 14, reports bloodhorse.com.

Evans entered two plain bay geldings, Extremely Wicked and Square Root, in the six-furlong contest. According to the chart, Extremely Wicked won the race wearing the number nine saddle cloth, and Square Root finished third wearing the number six. The number nine paid $5.40 to win as the second choice, while the even-money favorite, number six, paid $2.40 to show.

In the test barn, however, it was discovered that number nine was actually Square Root.

In an Aug. 21 ruling, the New Mexico board of stewards ordered both horses disqualified and unplaced; the horse identifier was fined $1,000; and Evans was fined $5,000 and suspended 15 days (Aug. 26 – Sept. 9). Evans appealed the ruling on Aug. 23, and also filed for a temporary restraining order to controvert the suspension.

“They fined the identifier $1,000 and he keeps his job, but they want to give me a $5,000 fine and take away 15 days when I have a family to feed and own half of my 45-horse stable so I won't be able to transfer any of my horses,” Evans told bloodhorse.com. “Look, the identifiers are up against it because they have terrible equipment. The scanners they use don't show the horse's name and number, only a list of 20 numbers. They want to use the absolute insurer rule, but the track also needs to provide the tools to make sure things like this don't happen.”

Evans said the track does not provide numbered smocks for grooms leading horses to the paddock, and that there are not enough valets to saddle the horses. One of his horses was acting up and had to be saddled outside the paddock on that afternoon, Evans added.

“The valets put the 6 on the 9 horse and the 9 on the 6 horse,” the trainer explained. “The identifier said they were the correct horses. They run and nothing is caught until 20 minutes after the race when they are back at the test barn.”

Churchill Fails To Show Up At Contract Meeting With Valets; Strike On Derby Day A Possibility

With less than 24 hours until the 147th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated failed to attend a meeting early this morning to, once and for all, finalize a contract with its valets and avoid major disruptions at the Derby. The governor and mediator were notified of the meeting last night; even still, the valets were once met with radio silence by their employer.

Today's informational leafleting action by the Greater Louisville Central Labour Council — which represents 50 unions and 50,000 workers in the area — will preview a potential Derby with valets and parimutuels on strike. The action will take place TODAY until 3pm ET at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs valets' efforts to secure a fair contract with living wages and benefits has gotten the attention of national media:

“We put out a lot of hard work here and we risk our physical bodies. We make this product that they sell to people for millions of dollars all over the world,” Ron Shelton, a Churchill Downs valet, told New York Magazine.

Shelton told Huffington Post, “The valets just want a damn slice of the pie. We're not asking for anything out of the ordinary, or an inordinate amount.”

A key priority for valets is ensuring that Churchill Downs maintains current staffing levels, which the company has refused. For valets like Josh Foster, who's been at the racetrack for less than five years and lacks the seniority that would protect him from staffing cuts, a contract would help win job security.

He told New York Magazine: “If they call and tell two of us to stay home, I have no job.”

The CEO of Churchill Downs, Willian Castanjen, made over $10.5 million dollars, over 400 times the salary of the median worker at the racetrack.

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Derby Week Disruption? Still No Progress On Contract Between Valets, Churchill Downs

After a weekend of protests with community and labor allies calling on Churchill Downs to do by right by its employees, the Licensed Racing Valets who are essential to the Kentucky Derby's success are still without a contract and say they are willing to do whatever it takes to hold the hugely profitable company accountable. Protests and demonstrations are expected to continue this week.

Historically, Derby Week generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the Louisville business community and the entire Commonwealth. Labor unrest and disruptions could greatly reduce the amount of revenue for local area businesses, virtually all of which were harmed last year when Derby Week was cancelled on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Churchill Downs Incorporated posted $1.054 billion in net revenue for 2020, and its CEO Bill Carstanjen made $10.5 million, yet the company is refusing to pay its valets at Churchill Downs Racetrack (CDRT) and Turfway Park a fair wage and provide basic workplace protections to ensure adequate staffing levels at the racetracks.

“There's no Kentucky Derby without the hard work of our Licensed Racing Valets, and Churchill Downs's disregard for their basic needs is a slap in face after our members have spent decades building the company's profits,” said Don Vest, President of SEIU Local 541. “Churchill Downs is so greedy that they'd rather threaten the Derby experience for millions of people and deprive local businesses of much-needed revenue than pay workers a modest amount of money that the CEO makes before he finishes his morning cup of coffee.”

The Licensed Racing Valets are highly skilled workers whose work is critical to the success and safety of the Kentucky Derby operation. They must saddle the racehorses and make sure each horse is compliant with stringent racing regulations. The Racing Valets at CDRT, along with those at Turfway Park in Covington, Kentucky, have been working under expired contracts for months. Churchill Downs abruptly cancelled negotiations scheduled for last week after the Racing Valets' union, sent its proposals to the company.

Churchill Downs has refused to return to the bargaining table, choosing instead to pressure the Racing Valets to accept substandard wages and pension benefits, some of which have not been increased for as many as 22 years. Churchill Downs' decision reflects its willingness to gamble with the livelihoods of its loyal employees as well as those of the local and regional business community.

Thirty-five year valet Ronnie Shelton expressed his frustrations with the company's disregard for its employees to ABC affiliate WHAS 11 at a protest Saturday: “…I don't understand their feelings on it. This is the last thing in the world we would want at this point in time. It's a cloud and it's over Churchill and it's over us.”

He continued: “It's kinda hurtful, you put in all these years in the job. And you devote yourself to it.”

The ratio of the CEO's compensation to the median salary of the other full-time employees in 2020 ($26,000) is 404:1. In the first few seconds of opening betting, the company easily makes the $27,000 it would cost to fully cover modest raises for its entire valet workforce.

The Racing Valets' attorney told the Louisville Courier Journal, “This is a corporation that just takes, takes, takes, and we're asking — for members of our community who are essential to the races — we're asking for just a semblance of justice in their contract.”

Former candidate for U.S. Senate and former State Representative Charles Booker rallied with the workers on Saturday. Affirming his support for the workers and his calls on Churchill Downs to settle a fair contract, he said, “Whenever there's an opportunity to fight for justice and to fight for equity, you're going to see me there.”

The Licensed Racing Valets are currently paid about $16 an hour and are asking for modest increases to their pay and contributions to their retirement accounts to provide financial stability for themselves and their families. They are also asking for guaranteed valet staffing levels at live races to ensure consistency and safety. In order to make a living at racetracks that only provide work for 40-80 days per year, valets must travel throughout the country to different race tracks and are responsible for their own travel and housing costs.

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Ellis Park To Require Negative COVID-19 Test For All Jockeys, Backside Entrants

Effective immediately, Ellis Park Racing & Gaming has increased track and racing protocols/testing requirements.

All jockeys and valets must have a negative COVID-19 test result taken before being admitted to Ellis Park. Once a negative test is reported they will not need additional testing unless they leave the local area, Kentucky or ride/race at another racetrack.

All backside entrants, including jockeys who do leave the local area or the state of Kentucky after their initial test, will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours before being re-admitted to Ellis Park.

ALL SHIP-INS will go directly to the Receiving Barn/assigned stall. All horsemen directed to the Receiving Barn/assigned stall may not enter any other area of the barn area except the track kitchen for carry-out food only.

Same day result testing is available in the Henderson area, but appointments must be made in advance. Please visit firstcareclinics.com or call 270-854-3196 for information or reservations.

For more information about Ellis Park's new cleaning and safety protocols, please visit www.ellisparkracing.com.

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