PTHA NEWS Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Newsletter We ARE Pennsylvania Racing Winter 2019 2018 Year in Review The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (PTHA) is perennially recognized 2018 Parx Racing Leaders throughout the horse racing industry as a leader in protecting horsemen’s rights especially in the state TOP NOTCH RACING legislature, as well as guaranteeing live racing at CO-LEADING OWNER Parx Racing, providing health care and pension 173-24-31-33 for horsemen, creating/maintaining benevolence $1,031,164 programs, and much more. Below are just some of the highlights from last year. PARX RACING JAGGER, INC. The number of scheduled live racing days at Parx CO-LEADING OWNER Racing stayed constant at 170, while total purses paid 106-24-14-17 to horsemen were over $50 million. For the second $585,046 consecutive year, the stakes calendar was highlighted by the dual-Grade 1 day featuring the $1,000,000 JOHN SERVIS Pennsylvania Derby and $1,000,000 Cotillion Stakes. LEADING TRAINER Competitors in both races went on to battle the best of 255-71-37-26 their divisions in their final 2018 starts: Derby winner $2,581,043 McKinzie captured the G1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita while the 1-2 finishers in the Cotillion were 1-3 in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Also of note were several outstanding Parx-based FRANKIE PENNINGTON horses that made national headlines. Jaywalk, trained LEADING JOCKEY by John Servis and owned by D.J. Stable LLC & Cash 665-153-100-102 $5,181,286 Is King LLC, broke her maiden at Parx in July and followed that up with three more wins, culminating in an exciting victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile JANN N. HERNANDEZ LEADING APPRENTICE JOCKEY Fillies (G1). The unimposing bay stallion Discreet Lover became a millionaire with his longshot come- 327-48-43-35 $1,113,157 from-behind win in the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) for owner/trainer Uriah St. Lewis. Fan favorite Imperial Hint added to his millionaire status with G1 wins in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and Vosburgh Stakes, for owner Raymond Mamone CHAMPAGNE CHUCK and trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr. All three are expected to WINNINGEST HORSE continue their racing careers in 2019, and will be 19-7-3-2 $141,770 (cont’d on page 3) Photos: Nikki Sherman 2018 Year in Review President’s Message Salvatore M. DeBunda, Esq. I would be remiss not to first Speaking of year-end honors, I am ecstatic that John acknowledge the passing of Servis’s Jaywalk was crowned Eclipse Champion 2yo longtime NYTHA President, Filly. In addition, two PA-Breds were also awarded Rick Violette, Jr. He was an championships. Isn’t it great to be in Pennsylvania? inspiration to everyone he worked with and a class act. He will be greatly missed. I was also saddened to hear I am excited that we will be continuing the MATCH that Parx Racing Hall of Fame trainer Walter Reese Series this year, and believe that the changes to the passed away late last year. He was a hugely talented program will be a huge boost to its future success. The horseman whose presence continues to be felt at Parx. most important revision is that each racetrack will host one “MATCH Series Day”, so be sure to mark down the On a separate note, I am excited to welcome our Parx date of September 2 on your calendar! new Director of Racing, David Osojnak. He brings a unique perspective to the position, and I am looking Another great program that has already commenced is forward to working with him in the future. the microchipping of the Parx Racing backstretch. This is a great step forward with enforcing integrity. Now that we have moved on to a new year, it allows us to remember the outstanding individuals of last Finally, I would like to thank the PTHA staff, Board, year. Please join us for the annual Horsemen’s Awards and especially the full membership, for your support of banquet on March 27 at Celebrations. Executive Director Mike Ballezzi and me. Happy New Year to everyone and good luck to you in 2019! Advertise in the AWARDS BANQUET PTHA News Honor the Best of Parx Racing The PTHA News is a four-color newsletter sponsored by the PTHA. Published four times a year, it is mailed Sponsored by the PTHA & Parx Racing to approximately 3,000 owners, trainers When: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 and breeders, and includes informative 5:30 to 10:00 PM articles on industry news, important Where: legislative changes affecting the racing Celebrations industry, local features, the latest on 2201 Galloway Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 Turning for Home, and much more. Cost: $20 per person To purchase tickets, visit the PTHA office or send a check to P. O. Box 300, Bensalem, PA 19020 no later than March 13. Discounts available for pre-paid multiple issues, as well as Turning for Home Day sponsors. To reserve space, contact Marketing & Publicity Director Nikki Sherman at 267-223-3444 or [email protected]. Page 2 PTHANews Winter 2019 2018 Year in Review (cont’d from cover) in order to provide more personalized care. A great reason for horsemen to find employment at Parx is the joined by the exciting young colt Maximus Mischief, ability for stable employees to be eligible for: $500 who is trained by Robert Reid, Jr. for owners Cash Is towards prescriptions, $1,000 towards dental, $3,000 King LLC and LC Racing. towards doctor visits and $300 towards eye care. LEGISLATIVE A continued partnership with the LaSalle University nurses and St. Mary’s also enabled more proactive Pennsylvania continues to look to expanded gaming women’s healthcare, including more mammograms as a means of generating non-tax revenues for state and routine exams than ever before. operations. In 2018, the legislature authorized up The PTHA remains one of the few horsemen’s to an additional ten mini casinos, sports wagering, organizations in the nation that provides their eligible video gaming at truck stops, online interactive trainers with a pension plan for retirement. gaming, airport gaming, and daily fantasy sports. Despite strong opposition from many organizations who believe that the continued expansion of other HORSEMEN’S PURCHASING ASSOC. forms and locations for gaming will have negative The HPA has proven itself to be sustainable by effects on the wagers placed at existing casinos, consistently offering quality products at discounted thereby jeopardizing the many benefits the original prices, and is conveniently open six days a week with gaming authorization has brought to Pennsylvania, easy access on the Parx Racing backstretch. 2018 the authorizing legislation was enacted. The PTHA marked the best year in its history, with an increase in vigorously opposed the various expansion proposals total sales of 5.5% from 2017. The HPA continues to and successfully joined with other organizations to offer holiday sales and special discounts throughout defeat a proposal that would have placed as many the year, as well as a Nutrena “Trainer’s Promo” feed as 50,000 slot machines in taverns and bars across special that has been available since 2012. In addition, the state. Further, the PTHA and its lobbyists were the HPA sponsors the annual Chaplain’s Christmas able to obtain other restrictions that serve to limit the Party, which is attended by over one hundred locations and number of alternative gaming options backstretch children. that had originally been proposed. TURNING FOR HOME HEALTH CARE + PENSION TFH surpassed 2,500 horses in its tenth year as the Nearly 200 trainers and their dependents received leading on-track retirement program in the country, health insurance in 2018. Prescriptions and co-pays steadily helping over 300 horses annually find safe continued to be covered through the flex insurance in retirement after their careers have ended. The addition addition to the excellent regular health insurance. of Administrative Assistant Danielle Gibson has Over 200 stable employees were able to use the Stable boosted not only follow-up, but also the advertising Employee Benefits in 2018, which was established power of the PTHA with her close work alongside as a direct result of funding from the Race Horse Marketing Director Nikki Sherman. The TFH social Development Fund (RHDF). Stable employees media presence has increased significantly, which now regularly visit the PTHA office to receive their helps network more horses and makes sure the horses benefits, thanks to a combination of excellent customer are in good care and move more quickly off the track service by Benefits Coordinator Amanda-Kate Lenzi to the next chapter of their lives. and Spanish translations by HPA Manager Vicky Mangini. The main focus of the year was to establish (cont’d on page 23) new vendor relationships with specific medical offices Winter 2019 PTHANews Page 3 Parx Racing Roundup Jaywalk is 2018 Eclipse Champion 2yo Filly $100,000 PA NURSERY STAKES Call Paul was the deserving 4-5 morning line favorite for the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes on December 1, 2018. The two-year-old son of Friesan Fire had won two straight - including the $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) - before trying a route of ground in the G1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. He finished third in that race, and followed that up with another third in the one mile Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. The PA Nursery for Call Paul and Trevor McCarthy win the Pennsylvania-Breds made logical sense for the colt’s next start, and also marked a return to sprinting at seven furlongs. By post Photos: Nikki Sherman $100,000 PA Nursery Stakes.