The Horsemen’s Newsletter August 2013 Vol. 23 • Number 6 Heft, Chuckas & Jackson To Be Honored by MRMA Last month the Maryland Racing Media 1941 when the southpaw pitched for Owens- Association selected longtime MTHA Board boro, a Boston Red Sox D league affiliate. member Arnold Heft for its most prestigious Then from 1945-’61, Heft was a referee honor, the Humphrey S. Finney Award for in the National Basketball Association. He Free Health lifetime contributions to horse racing in would later become a part-owner of the Maryland, and also tabbed Tom Chuckas Jr. Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards Fairs Coming and Bruce Jackson for annual awards as well. and Washington Mystics. Heft will become the He has already been in- This Fall 28th winner of the Hum- phrey S. Finney Award ducted into both the Wash- Mark your calendar now for Maryland when the trio is honored ington Metropolitan Bas- Horsemen’s Health Fairs in September at at the MRMA Crab Feast on ketball Hall of Fame and Bowie and Laurel. Saturday, Oct. 26 in the Car- the Greater Washington, Scheduled services will include riage Room at Laurel Park. D.C., Jewish Sports Hall of screenings for cholesterol, prostate, Heft and his wife, Sylvia, Fame. blood pressure, body fat composition, have owned scores of no- Both Chuckas and Jack- carbon monoxide and skin cancer, plus table horses together over son were selected for their massage therapy and more. the years and their success recent contributions to the All backstretch workers – assistant together has now spanned success of the Maryland trainers, exercise persons, grooms, hot- four decades. walkers, stable foremen trainers, etc. – racing industry. Past notable horses for Chuckas, who has tran- are invited to participate, free of charge. the Hefts include Baldski’s Choice, Pulver- sitioned over well from previous stints at “A healthy workforce is important izing, He Is Risen, Red’s Round Table and harness racing ovals Northville Downs in to the horses in your barn. But don’t $705,430-earner Eighttofasttocatch, the 2011 do it just for them – do it for yourself,” Maryland Million Classic winner and 2012 Michigan and Rosecroft Raceway in Mary- remarked MTHA Health & Welfare honoree as Maryland-based Horse of the land to lead the Maryland Jockey Club as Commit­​tee chairman and Maryland Year by MRMA. Chief Executive Officer, garnered the Nancy Horsemen’s Assistance Fund President Although the highlight of his career oc- Alberts Newsmaker Award for his work in Tim Keefe. curred two years ago when he prevailed in reviving the Pimlico Special and enabling Dates are: Tuesday, Sept. 10: 9:30 the Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park, the Preakness Stakes to gain its resurgence. a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Bowie Track Kitchen Eighttofasttocatch is still among the top old- Jackson was tabbed for an- and Wednesday, Sept. 11: 9:30 a.m. to er distance horses on the circuit. other achievement award 12:30 p.m., Laurel Recreation Room. During the 1980s and ’90s the recogni- by MRMA voters for Services are provided by a team of zable Heft colors – fittingly black and white his unheralded work health professionals from LifeWork Strate- to honor his prior days as an NBA official – ​ rehabilitating some of gies, a member of Adventist HealthCare. were often seen in the winner’s circle cour- the nation’s fin- Note: A 12-hour fast is required for tesy of three horses who combined to earn est runners at cholesterol tests. All results are confiden- roughly $1.5 million: Baldski’s Choice, Pul- the Fair Hill tial and will be sent to the address that verizing and He Is Risen. you provide. Heft’s passion for sports clearly predates E q u i n e Health Fairs are funded by the Mary- his time as a Thoroughbred owner. From Therapy land Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associ- 1938-’42 while pitching for several minor Center. ation and Maryland Horsemen’s Assis- league teams including the Triple A Balti- tance Fund. more Orioles, Heft compiled a career mark For further information contact Bob- of 30-25 which included a 22-14 season in by Lillis at (410) 902-6843. News Clips Changes Made To 2013 Maryland Million Day Card Assistance Fund Receives Grant The Maryland Million board run for the 28th time, the race Thoroughbred Charities has approved three significant was initially a mile and a sixteenth of America has awarded changes for the 28th Jim McKay test until the 1993 running, when a grant to the Maryland Maryland Million, to be run on it was lengthened to a mile and an Horsemen’s Assistance Fund Inc., the organi- Saturday, Oct. 19 at Laurel Park. eighth. zation that provides medical care and other The day of racing for the This year’s Maryland Mil- benefits for backstretch employees in need. offspring of eligible Maryland-based stallions lion Day will have two new opportunities TCA distributes grants to several categories will no longer card the Oaks and the Turf for maiden turf runners, offering purses of of Thoroughbred industry related nonprofits Sprint. And the distance of the Turf has been $50,000 for each. Maryland Million and/or including rescue, rehabilitation and adoption modified to one mile. Maryland-bred horses will be eligible for the organizations, as well as education and back- The Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies, had been mile and a sixteenth races for 3-year-olds and stretch programs. run since Maryland Million’s inception in up, with Maryland Million eligible horses pre- 1986. The Turf Sprint, won the past three ferred. Second preference will be for horses years by Ben’s Cat, was first contested in 2004. who have not run for less than $12,500. Georganne With the elimination of the Turf Sprint, the Pre-entry deadline for the 28th Jim McKay Hale Named distance of the Turf has been shortened. To be Maryland Million Day is Oct. 10. One Of Baltimore $150,000 Maryland Million Classic $50,000 Maryland Million Sun’s 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/8 mi. Distaff Starter Handicap Top 50 $125,000 Maryland Million Turf Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds & up who Females 3-year-olds & up, 1 mi., turf have started for a claiming price of $12,500 To Watch or less since October 6, 2012, 1 mi. This is a Georganne Hale, $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies F&M, 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/18 mi., turf Sweepstakes. Maryland Jockey Club’s director of racing and co-creator of the Totally $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff $50,000 Maryland Million/ Thoroughbred Horse Show, has been named Handicap for F&M, 3-year-olds & up, 7 fur. to Baltimore Sun’s top 50 Women to Watch Maryland-bred Maiden Turf Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds & up. First compilation. $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint Comprised of the top personalities mak- Handicap for 3-year-olds & up, 6 fur. preference to Maryland Million-eligible ing an impact on the Baltimore region, the horses. Second preference to horses who Sun’s Top 50 list is comprised of news making $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie have not run for less than $12,500. women from arts, government, business, law, Fillies, 2-year-olds, 6 fur. health, non-profits and education. $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery $50,000 Maryland Million/ 2-year-olds, 6 fur. Maryland-bred Maiden Turf 3-year-olds & up. First preference to $50,000 Maryland Million Starter Maryland Million-eligible horses. Second Rec Report 3-year-olds & up who have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less since Octo- preference to horses who have not run for ber 6, 2012, 1 mi. This is a Sweepstakes. less than $12,500. Backstretch Appreciation Day Will be held Sunday, September 15 from 1-4 p.m. at Laurel. As always, it will be ca- Scholarship Deadline Sept. 10 tered by Russell Clark. There will be door prizes and DJ music by Carlisle Entertain- September 10 is the The Maryland Racing ment. Soda will be served. deadline to apply for aid Media Association sponsors from the Maryland Thor- the scholarship program For more information call Recreation Di- oughbred Scholarship and selects recipients, so as rector Dan Mangum at (410) 802-5798 Fund for 2013. to avoid any potential con- .Cookout at Bowie Individuals employed flict of interest. on the backstretch at Mary- About 100 people attended the MTHA Applications are avail- land tracks or at farms, sponsored Summer Cookout on Monday, July training centers or veterinary clinics in Mary- able in the track kitchens 15 at Bowie to dedicated the new volley ball land, and enrolled this fall in college or gradu- at Bowie and Laurel and in the MTHA office at and grill area. ate school, will be considered for these scholar- Laurel. They may also be downloaded from the Special thanks to Linda Gaudet, Bobby ships. More than $20,000 is available this year MTHA Web site at www.mdhorsemen.com. Lillis, Juan Ramirez and Dan and Gail Mang- through the fund, which is supported by vari- For more information contact Ted Black at um for their all their help with this event. ous industry groups and individuals. (301) 459-4408; [email protected]. Board Endorses Void Claim Rule Don’t The MTHA Board of Directors unani- euthanized on the track at any time after Forget mously voted to advocate for the adoption of breaking from the gate. In addition, a claim rules which will make a claim void if a horse would be voidable at the discretion of the new Stall Applications dies during a race.