The Horsemen's Newsletter
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The Horsemen’s Newsletter June 2017 Vol. 27 • Number 6 Beyond The Wire Program Gets Rolling 2017 Preakness Meet Numbers Break Records Beyond The Wire, Maryland rac- facilities.” ing’s expanded aftercare program, Beyond The Wire has partnerships Two days that are important drivers for Thoroughbred had a successful soft launch Preak- with two such farms in Maryland: Mid- purses in Maryland generated record pari-mutuel handle ness Stakes week and through the end Atlantic Horse Rescue in Chesapeake this year, according to the Maryland Jockey Club. of May had taken in three racehorses City and the Foxie G. Foundation in Wagering on a 14-race program May 20, Preakness from three different trainers. Union Bridge. Hammond said Smart Stakes day, was $97.168 million, up 3.2% from the previous Applications were approved Dixie Jones went to Mid-Atlantic Horse record of $94.127 million set in 2016 and about 14% higher for Charlie Bravo, a 5-year-old City Rescue, while Foxie G took in Charlie than total betting in 2015. In-state handle on live Pimlico Zip horse trained by Lacey Gaudet; Bravo and D’Humerus. races increased 7.1% thanks to growth in the off-track bet- D’Humerus, a 4-year-old D’Funnybone Beyond The Wire is designed to ting network in the state. gelding trained by John Hartsell Jr.; strengthen Thoroughbred aftercare On May 19, which featured the Black-Eyed Susan and Smart Dixie Jones, a 5-year-old in Maryland by providing more stable Stakes as part of a 14-race card, total handle was $19.895 Smarty Jones gelding trained funding and increasing account- million, an increase of 6.6% from $18.661 million in 2016. by Valora Testerman. ability for the where- Handle for the two days generated over $4.7-million All three raced abouts and wel- for purses. most recently in fare of equine The MJC also reported record attendance for both days: Maryland, which participants. The 140,327 (up 3.7% from 135,256 in 2016) on Saturday and is one of the cri- program is finan- 50,339 (up 4.9% from 47,956 last year) on Friday. teria for entering cially supported “The sport of Thoroughbred racing is being rejuvenat- the racehorse by the MTHA, ed and reimagined by the Stronach family,” MJC president retirement pro- Maryland Horse and general manager Sal Sinatra said. “Their commitment gram. MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE Breeders Associa- to this sport is remarkable and unparalleled. Their vision is “It went really tion and Maryland being embraced by horsemen and fans around the country. well,” said Jessica Hammond, adminis- Jockey Club, as well as owners and “We want to thank the fans who came to Pimlico Satur- trator of Beyond The Wire and coun- jockeys who contribute on a per-start day as well as the horsemen who supported our program seling administrator for the Maryland or per-mount basis. and, of course, the incredible equine athletes for their spirit Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associa- Others also play an important role and beauty.” tion. “People have been asking ques- in the process. Maryland Veterinary Sinatra said he believes total handle on May 19 could tions about the program, and trainers Group performed the required exami- have been higher if not for a late-afternoon rainstorm and in Maryland have been helping to pro- nations on the initial three horses in about 20 scratches. mote it. Some seem surprised at how the program for free while Steve Pettit The three racing days of Preakness week were the cen- fast we can go through the process and shipped them to the farms at a reduced terpiece of a short 12-day meet at Old Hilltop, which cur- get a horse moved to one of our Thor- rate. oughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 3 Maryland Revised Federal Racing Medication Legislation Commission Would Ban Race-Day Lasix As expected, a revised version of federal medication within 24 hours of a race no later legislation that would place the United States than Jan. 1, 2019, should it pass. It also says Ratifies Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in charge of the authority is charged with establishing a list equine medication, testing and enforcement of permitted and prohibited medications and now includes a ban on the race-day medication treatment methods. Preakness Lasix and broadens its reach to Standardbred Any attempts to ban race-day Lasix, which and Quarter Horse racing. treats exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhag- Bonus The Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017, for- ing, have been widely opposed by horsemen’s merly the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity groups in the United States and North America. The Maryland Racing Commission Act of 2015, was introduced May 25 by U.S. Most racetracks also have shown no appetite May 25 ratified the parameters of a Reps. Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican, and for a ban. Preakness bonus for the connections of Paul Tonko, a New York Democrat. Both law- A release from the Coalition for Horse Rac- Maryland-bred or -sired horses that fin- makers were involved in sponsoring the orig- ing Integrity, a Jockey Club-driven entity that ish first, second or third in the second inal bill, which never made it to the federal supports the endeavor, said the 2017 bill “has leg of the Triple Crown. The bonus was committee hearing stage. no effect” on the Interstate Horseracing Act, created via legislation last year. The “uniform, anti-doping and medica- which governs pari-mutuel wagering across The bonus wasn’t up for grabs this tion control program” authorized by the leg- state lines and gives multiple parties, includ- year given the lack of a Maryland-bred or islation (House Resolution 2651) would create ing horsemen, rights regarding signal transmis- Maryland-sired runner in the Preakness. the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication sions. The first version would have allowed the The Maryland Thoroughbred Horse- Control Authority, which would be headed by authority to block transmission of simulcast men’s Association, Maryland Horse the chief executive officer of USADA, currently Breeders Association and Maryland signals if jurisdictions didn’t comply. Travis Tygart. USADA would have six other The bill instead employs this vague lan- Jockey Club agreed to the bonus scheme, members and also the power to appoint the which is as follows: guage: “As a condition of eligibility to partici- other six. pate in covered horse races, covered persons For a Maryland-bred and -sired win- A release states that the Federal Trade ner of the Preakness, the owner would agree that they and their covered horses shall Commission “would have limited oversight of be bound by the provisions of the horseracing get $225,000, the breeder $225,000, and the authority.” The FTC in part was created the stallion owner $50,000; a Maryland- anti-doping and medication control program to “protect consumers by preventing anti- established” by the legislation. bred but not Maryland-sired winner competitive, deceptive, and unfair business would produce $225,000 for the owner The legislation makes no mention of the practices.” Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, and $225,000 for the breeder; and a The 2015 legislation didn’t call for a ban victory by a Maryland-sired but not which has guided the national uniform on Lasix, the only medication that can be medication effort in the U.S. for about 10 Maryland-bred winner would be worth legally administered on race day. The $225,000 for the owner and $50,000 for years. The RMTC created the Multiple bill did say that the oversight au- Medication Violation Penalty System the stallion owner. For a second- or third- thority would have discretion over place finish in each category, the returns under which points are assigned for all policy, which led horsemen’s violations; the new bill offers no would be 20% and 10%, respectively, of groups to call the measure a the aforementioned amounts. details on penalties, which appar- stalking horse for elimination of ently would be at the discretion Should Maryland-bred or -sired the anti-bleeding medication. of the Horseracing Anti-Doping horses run first, second and The latest bill requires the and Medication Control Author- third an additional $150,000 authority to ban the use of all would be paid in the same ity. percentages by the MTHA and MHBA. MJC Donates Truckload Of Food To Backstretch Workers A refrigerated truckload of lunchmeat, fish, Maryland Jockey Club, was offered to back- fruit, vegetables and Danish were stretch workers beginning the fol- delivered to Bryant Paz at the lowing day. Employees got the word out to the backstretch community Laurel Park track kitchen from via public address announcements. Pimlico Race Course late in the The MTHA thanks the MJC for evening of May 20, Preakness Stakes Day. thinking of and helping feed those The food, provided compliments of the on the backstretch. Rec Report Friday, June 23 MTHA Annual Laurel Park Ruffian Room MTHA Express Meeting 11am - All Members Invited The MTHA Express is going very well, con- tinuing to provide assistance in the backstretch community with doctor and dentist appoint- Continued from Page 1 ments, social security and social services visits, rently is the focal point of a Maryland Stadium Excuses, but Motion won the fifth race with Just grocery shopping trips, haircuts and more. Authority study on its future use for racing. The Howard to give each trainer six victories. Anyone wanting to hitch a ride on Tuesdays Pimlico meet concluded May 29 with dead-heats Magee is based at Pimlico and has won the and Thursdays call Dan Mangum at 410-802- in the owner, trainer and jockey standings.