Aug 19, 2008

US wins Olympic Equestrian Jumping Team Gold 

The United States, defending title holders, won the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Jumping Team gold, holding off a strong challenge from Canada in the Team final competition at the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Shatin) on Monday night. Norway came third on 27 penalty points to claim the bronze medal.

Riders from the US team celebrate. (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Germany won the Olympic team dressage gold medal, their seventh successive Olympic title, holding off a strong challenge from the Netherlands at the HK Olympic Equestrian Venue (Shatin) Thursday night.

Open To The World

Earlier this year, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) announced the development of the very first NRHA European Futurity to be held in 2009. The NRHA “Open to the World” European Futurity will be held March 9-14, 2009, in Manerbio, Italy. The event will showcase four-year-old reining horses and riders will compete for close to half a million dollars in prize money. The international explosion in the number of approved shows and members set the stage for the addition of this historic event.   The conditions are available on www.NRHA.com

Aug 15, 2008

by Bob Meyer

The Humane Society of the United States is launching a campaign to encourage religious leaders to raise awareness about “Our moral responsibilities to all animals, including those raise for food.” HSUS president, Wayne Pacelle says agriculture has taken a harsh turn away from responsible animal husbandry in the last 30 to 40 years. As part of the campaign, they are encouraging people to switch to cage-free eggs or egg substitutes during the month of October.

August 15, 2008

Germany continues to dominate the Olympic equestrian team events, taking team gold in dressage. After 46 rides in the Grand Prix round, Germany took gold, Netherlands silver, and Denmark bronze. The US finished a close fourth.

The top 24 riders will now move on to the first round of individual competition, the Grand Prix Special. The scores from the Grand Prix test are scrapped, and the qualifying riders will start fresh for the individual competition. The riders with the best 15 scores (including any ties for 15th), will move on to the Grand Prix Freestyle round. The scores from the Special and the Freestyle will be averaged to determine the winners.

The dressage riders moving on to the individual dressage competition, in order based on their Grand Prix scores, are as follows:

1 Isabell Werth (Germany)
2 Anky Van Grunsven (Netherlands)
3 Heike Kemmer (Germany)
4 Emma Hindle (Great Britain)
5 Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Netherlands)
6 Kyra Kyrklund ( Finland)
7 Courtney King-Dye (USA)
8 Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (Denmark)
9 Nadine Capellmann (Germany)
10 Steffen Peters (USA)
11 Hans Peter Minderhould (Netherlands)
12 Bernadette Pujals (Mexico)
13 Jan Brink (Sweden)
14 Andreas Helgstrand (Denmark)
15 Alexandra Korelova (Russia)
16 Michal Rapcewicz (Poland)
17 Anne Van Olst (Denmark)
18 Patrik Kittel (Sweden)
19 Ashley Holzer (Canada)
20 Hubert Perring (France)
21 Marc Boblet (France)
22 Juan Manuel Munoz (Spain)
23 Silfven Tinne (Sweden)
24 Laura Bechtolsheimer (Great Britain)
25 Kristy Oatley (Australia)

The second round for individual competition, the Grand Prix special will be held Saturday evening, August 16 in Hong Kong. It will air live on NBC online here in the US on Saturday morning at 7:15. Or, it will be televised on MSNBC Saturday, August 16 between 5:00am-5:00 pm.

The dressage final, the Grand Prix Freestyle, is Tuesday evening in Hong Kong. It will play live online on NBC Tuesday morning at 7:15 am and will be aired on TV on Oxygen from 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesday.

Japanese Equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu

I’m always telling people that I’m still going to be riding horses when I’m a little 80-year-old lady. They tend to look at me like I’m a little crazy.

Of course, it’s always the non-horsey people who just don’t get it.

But they probably wouldn’t be so surprised if they knew that the oldest athlete competing at the Beijing Olympics in August is 67-year-old Hiroshi Hoketsu, a dressage rider for the Japanese equestrian team. His first Olympics was in 1964, where he placed 40th in the show jumping competition. It’s been 44 years since Hoketsu’s Olympic debut, and in that time he’s been busy running large pharmaceutical companies, including the Japan division of Johnson & Johnson, prior to his retirement in 2002.

It was his wife, Motoko, who first introduced Hiroshi to dressage after enjoying watching the sport in Europe. A self-professed perfectionist, Hiroshi was fascinated by the detail and precision involved in the sport. He began riding every morning before donning his suit and tie and heading in to the office. After business trips abroad, the first place he went when he got home was the stables. He earned his second Olympic spot for Seoul in 1988, but was unable to compete when his horse failed the quarantine test due to a respiratory problem. Hiroshi then decided to concentrate on competitions at home, and won five national championships in a row between 1988 and 1992.

But he never gave up his Olympic dream.

Following his retirement from Johnson & Johnson, Hiroshi flew to Aachen, Germany where he took up with trainer Ton de Ridder. Under Ridder’s instruction, he qualified for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, only to be thwarted again when his horse Calando went lame.

Then he found Whisper, an 11-year-old chestnut mare with a wide blaze and taste for bananas. The pair has solidified a strong partnership that has impressed discerning judges, earned the Japanese equestrian team a spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and is finally sending Hiroshi back to the Olympics. The Pan-Asian Olympic qualifiers were scrambled by an outbreak of Equine Influenza, and instead delegations were sent to evaluate the riders for the countries affected. Hiroshi and Whisper won for Japan, securing a slot in the equestrian events for his country as well as his own Olympic berth.

After their Olympic qualification, trainer Ton de Ridder said,

“Hoketsu has been fighting for this dream for the last five years and his perseverance and attitude are admirable. While experiencing successes and disasters, like having his horse Calando not sound at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, he stuck to his dream. He found a new horse, kept on believing in our training and discipline and now he has succeeded. I am very happy for him. It also proves that new things are possible in dressage, at any age - even at 67!”.

Hiroshi is not overly thrilled that people are making such a big deal about his age, although he does refer to himself as “the hope for old men.” Of competing in dressage as an older man and his switch from show jumping to dressage, he says:

“In show jumping, you use your eyes to gauge the distance between the obstacle and yourself. This ability decreases as you get older,” Hoketsu said.

“It is not the case in dressage. You don’t have to pull on your physical strength much. I think it is a sport which you can do at a fairly advanced age if you have a chance and an agreeable horse.”

Besides the fact that Hiroshi’s family allegedly descends from a group of pirates who infested the Inland Sea in the Middle Ages, I’m intrigued by him because he is a normal kind of person going for his Olympic dream. Most of the other Olympic equestrian athletes have made horses their profession, which is also admirable. But I love the fact that Hiroshi spent his life as a businessman, kept up his love of horses around his work schedule, and is now competing in the Olympics once again. How cool is that? He sounds like a fun character, as does his horse, and I’m going to be watching out for them in August.

I don’t think we will see the last of Hiroshi Hoketsu at the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong. He says that he will keep it up as long as he and his horse stay fit. 2010 World Equestrian Games or 2012 Olympics anyone?

Aug 13, 2008

Oldest-Ever Olympian to Compete in the 2008 Games

Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu will make history books this summer.

Aug 12, 2008

FMSFQHR/SMC Combined Show

The First Mo State FQHR Affiliate and Show-Me Circuit once again combined efforts and put on another good show.  There was lots of good competition and great weather.  I had a little conflict with some Bumble Bees, which Doc and I both decided were not very friendly. ( I didn’t know I could still run that fast.) The swelling is going down and we are both fine.   There was also an accident with a lady falling and breaking bones have not heard an update on her, but our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.  I also was parked next to Mrs Bill Stouffer our Mo state Senator from Napton.  Enjoyed visiting with her and seeing all the old friends.

While the show bill looks daunting with so many classes offered the shows move right along.  Everyone is good to help and everything works well.  Be sure to bring your horses out because there is something for everyone.  Go to  FMSFQHRA web site for a list of classes.

Peptos Stylish Sue Shines NCHA Open Derby

Peptos Stylish Sue and Boyd Rice tendered a 224-point challenge that couldn’t be topped in the NCHA Open Derby, on August 3, 2008, in Fort Worth, TX. Playin N Fancy Smart and Kory Pounds, co-champions of the NCHA Super Stakes, posted 223 points for the reserve championship; Rice also finished third with 218.5 on Sails Lil Solano.

“She’s pretty much the same every time I show her and she’s real cow smart,” said Rice of Peptos Stylish Sue, a Peptos Stylish Oak daughter, who came through the go-rounds and semi-finals with scores of 215, 215 and 217.5 points.

“She’s a good mare and he’s one helluva a trainer,” said owner Barry Syra, Verquita, NM, who purchased the mare from Tongue River Ranch as a long yearling, at the Best of the Remuda Sale. Peptos Stylish Sue is the first horse that Barry and Kimberly Syra (pictured with Rice) have campaigned in open events.

It was a sweet victory for Rice, who has earned more than $1.3 million in cutting competition, but until Sunday, had never won a major event in Fort Worth.

Reserve champion Kory Pounds was pleased for Rice, as well. “My mare was on the very top of her game and she worked those cows as good as she could, but Boyd won and I’ve never been more tickled to be second.

“I don’t like to lose, but I like it when my buddies do good,” Pounds added. “I was rooting for Boyd when he showed.”

Playin N Fancy Smart, by Smart Little Lena, is owned by Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, TX. In addition to her Super Stakes co-championship, Pounds rode her to place eighth in the NCHA Futurity, and Slate River Ranch owner Glade Knight showed her as a Super Stakes Non-Pro finalist.

July 31, 2008 

Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 Introduced in Congress

Edited Press Release

On Thursday, July 24, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced H.R. 6598, the “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008.” The bill, which has 12 cosponsors, would set a criminal penalty of up to three years for the possession, sale and transport of horses in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. The bill also would require the U.S. Attorney General to both prosecute these cases and find “humane placement” for those horses they confiscate. H.R. 6598 would not override the current house bill 503 regarding the transport of horses to slaughter for human consumption.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security will conduct a hearing on the bill scheduled for Thursday, July 31 at 9:30 a.m. EST. Congress will recess for summer district work next week.

Cosponsors of H.R. 6598 include:

Dan Burton (IN-5th)
Walter Jones (NC-3rd)
Steve Chabot (OH-1st)
Bobby Scott (VA-3rd)
Janice Schakowsky (IL-9th)
Jerrold Nadler (NY-8TH)
Nick Rahall (WV-3rd)
James Moran (VA-8th)
Raul Grijalva (AZ-7th)
Christopher Smith (NJ-4th)
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-20th)
Betty Sutton (OH-13th

To find your representative’s contact information and determine if any of the cosponsors of this bill represent you in Congress at http://capwiz.com/aqha. To view the bill in entirety, go to www.thomas.gov and enter bill number H.R. 6598.

Source: www.aqha.com

July 30, 2008 

LEGENDARY TRAINER BILL FREEMAN PASSES AWAY AT DALLAS HOSPITAL

By Glory Ann Kurtz

While the NCHA Summer Spectacular was being held in Fort Worth, Bill Freeman, 58, Rosston, Texas, should have been celebrating his 25th Anniversary win of the first NCHA Triple Crown aboard Smart Little Lena. Instead, he was in the hospital fighting for his life. Today at 1:36 p.m. CDT., he lost that fight.

Freeman was originally hospitalized in the Denton (Texas) Regional Hospital due to complications from chronic asthma. With the need for more specialized care, on July 17, he was moved to Baylor Hospital in Dallas. He had been on a respirator for over three weeks and was heavily sedated. His oldest daughters, Tina, Erica and Kim Freeman arrived last night to be by his side, along with other family members.

Bill has fought the battle of chronic asthma for years, most currently aggravated by fungal pneumonia. Ironically his famous father, Shorty Freeman, died in 1990 from chronic asthma. In fact, I remember that during Shorty Freeman’s dispersal sale, he sat by the sale ring, breathing with the help of an oxygen tank and smoking a cigarette.

Just like Shorty was made famous by the stallion Doc O’Lena, Bill became a household word in the cutting industry with the help of Doc O’Lena’s son, Smart Little Lena. Smart Little Lena, who is still living, is owned by a syndicate and is standing at Tommy Manion's ranch in Aubrey, Texas. He was not only a great individual; he is currently the leading sire of cutting horses.

As the No. 2 leading cutting horse rider of all time, Bill has earned more than $5.4 million in the cutting arena, including three NCHA World Championship Futurity titles. He was the first rider to win the Triple Crown riding Smart Little Lena to the championship of the1982 Futurity and the 1983 Super Stakes and Derby. His Futurity titles are only surpassed by Buster Welch, who has won five. (The second Triple Crown winner took place the following years when Docs Okie Quixote and Joe Heim won the Futurity in 1983 and the Super Stakes and Derby in1984. Chiquita Pistol ridden by Tag Rice took the title by winning the Futurity in 2002 and the Futurity and Derby in 2003).

Funeral arrangements for Bill are pending; however, cards can be sent to Bill’s wife, Jill, to PO Box 27, Rosston, TX 76263. You can mail cards to his sister, Sharon, and her husband, Terry Riddle, to RR 2, Box 112, Wynnewood, OK 73098.

July 29, 2008

Deborah Lipsky and Will Richards to Deliver Keynote at NARHA National Conference

Denver—NARHA announced today that Deborah Lipsky and Dr. Will Richards have been signed
as keynote speakers for the 2008 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting in Hartford,
CT on October 30. Their presentation is titled “Horses and Individuals with Autism: a Natural
Therapeutic Relationship”
Deborah Lipsky holds a masters degree in education and counseling and she presents
workshops on autism across the USA to healthcare workers and laypersons. Diagnosed with
high functioning autism, she has found her own unique solutions and strategies for coping with
autism as an adult. She has a way of letting audiences “feel” what it is like to be autistic and her
interactive style keeps audiences riveted. She received the 2005 Autism Society of Maine’s
outstanding volunteer award and the Temple Grandin Award in 2006.
Will Richards, Ph.D is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Maine who works
with individuals who have cognitive, behavorial, emotional and social challenges. A former
university professor, inpatient administrator and clinical directyor, he now works almost
exclusively with people diagnosed within the autism spectrum.
Lipsky and Richards have developed an innovative approach to handling autistic meltdowns
called S.C.A.R.E.D. Their presentation will explore communications between equines and autistic
people, including the special nature of this bond and the similarities between equine and autistic
sensibilities and habits.
Michael Ganey of Pfizer will also present a keynote speech at the NARHA National Conference.
For more information about the NARHA National Conference or to register, please visit the
NARHA website at www.narha.org

July 28, 2008

Desormeaux picks up 5,000th win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux rode his 5,000th winner Sunday, aboard favored Bella Attrice in the seventh race at Saratoga.

"I'm in awe of the number. Five thousand, wow!," he said. "Those numbers were attained in California and New York, the `A' league, so I am proud of that."

The milestone victory took a while to reach. He rode his 4,998th winner on July 7 at Philadelphia Park, then went 0-for-30 before riding No. 4,999 last Wednesday.

Desormeaux has ridden three Kentucky Derby winners, including Big Brown this year. He won riding titles in California, Maryland and Japan during a career he began as a teenager at the bush tracks in his native Louisiana, where he rode his first winner on July 13, 1986.

He and Big Brown also won the Preakness before Desormeaux pulled up the colt in the Belmont, failing to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.

Desormeaux won Eclipse Awards as the nation's outstanding rider in 1989 and 1992 and another as the nation's leading apprentice jockey in 1987.

Russell Baze is North America's winningest thoroughbred jockey. In February, he became the first to reach 10,000 wins.

July 26, 2008
From All About Cutting

GET OVER IT!

Using the title from an Eagles song, I begin this letter. Get Over It!

I have watched as those in control attempt to circumvent the will of the majority of their membership. I am, of course, speaking of the NCHA. Mr. Willoughby has put forth a proposal that does away with a whole division of people, the amateurs. There being a resultant hue and cry against this proposal by approximately 80 percent of the membership, Mr. Willoughby was asked to remove his proposal from consideration. This he refused to do and instead stated that he preferred that the Executive Committee make the final decisions.

The APPEARANCE given, is that this was a foregone conclusion and allowing the membership early insight into his proposal was cosmetic. The decision was already made. Whether that is true or not, we wait to see. But APPEARANCE can be everything (I use caps not as shouting but as emphasis).

An attempt was made to level the playing field by putting in an amateur division. While the original attempt may not have been the best it could be it was a valid attempt. Abuses have occurred. Unfortunately, that which Mr. Willoughby has proposed, while laudable on its face, does not really appear to address those abuses but rather to allow a select few from his community to regain their ability to show in classes from which they are now banned.

This may be an incorrect conclusion, and if it is I apologize. But it APPEARS that that is indeed the direction he was heading. If the numbers I am hearing are correct, the proposal may adversely affect about 7,000 people and allow about 170 others a so-called advantage. I have read and heard many of the pro arguments. While some of those arguments have value they do not address the one underlying issue.

There is a rule. We all knew the rule when we signed up, with some exceptions. Those exceptions being the people who married professionals before this rule was put in place. That being the case, the easy solution would be to grandfather those people in and leave the rule the same for everyone else. If you KNEW the rule and made a CHOICE that put you outside of that rule, Get Over IT! We have become a nation of victims and complainers who, when we do not get a desired result, want do-overs.

Life is not fair. Were it fair, there would be many people in striped shirts with whistles running around calling fouls and assessing, another down, a penalty kick, a free throw OR a do-over. We cannot legislate against those who are born with more advantages. We can only try to the best of our abilities and resources to do the best we are able to do. The NCHA has implemented rules that try to level the playing field for all participants. No rule is perfect and some rules do need changing when they adversely impact the majority or allow a majority an egregious advantage. I have seen nothing that convinces me that the current rule does either. There will always be scofflaws and people who will circumvent any rules written, especially when money is at stake. Enforce the rules you have fairly. Allow no favoritism and make no exceptions for anyone regardless of their stature or connections.

We make choices when we do things. We join an organization we chose to follow their rules. If the rules change, and we decide they are no longer to our advantage, we, once again, have choices. Try to fix it, leave, or live with it. If you try to fix it and fail, live with the majority results. It is about choices.

I left the NCHA because of the bickering and perception that the playing field was never going to be level enough for my resources. No complaints just a statement of my choice. This was after 35 years of being involved in it, including being president of a local affiliate. I decided to try the fast-growing NRHA. I did so without performing the necessary due diligence. I found them to be as dysfunctional as any organization I have ever seen. That being said, I decided to jump in the deep end and try the Futurity game.

I searched for over a year of a prospect, located a yearling filly and purchased her. The rule for NRHA Futurity slots when I purchased her was: You could wait till just prior to the Futurity and try to buy a slot from someone who had one and wanted to sell it. I made a choice that that was the way to go for me, wait and buy a slot. I know how hard it is to get a baby ready for a futurity from the standpoint of soundness, trainability in the time frame available and other variables.

A year before my futurity year, the rule was changed without notice or warning. I attempted to talk with those within the industry about what I perceived as an injustice. I was not afforded a remedy. I had choices to make. I could pay the futurity entry and any penalties, I could choose not to show her or I could complain incessantly. I decided not to show her. Did the NRHA care that there would be one entry less? I am sure they didn’t. However, I am a firm believer in voting with my pocketbook.. Did I make a difference? No. But, if enough people vote with their pocketbooks change can be effected in any endeavor. I am willing to lead that charge both in the NCHA and the NRHA.

So, what is my point in all of the above? Choices, it is all about choices. I used the Willoughby proposal as a way to illustrate my point not to pick on Mr. Willoughby. We all make choices, some good, some bad, some indifferent. Change them when we can if they are egregious, live with them when we can’t change them, or elect not to participate anymore. We have to live with those choices and make changes where we can, either through participation or through our choice not to give our money to those with whom we disagree, if that disagreement is really meaningful.

We need to stop being victims and start being active participants. Get involved. Find out the issues. Vote. Change the by-laws if they need changing. Stop making excuses that you are not important enough or don’t have as many years of participation or experience and therefore will be laughed at as ignorant if you bring up change proposals. I have read many blogs on www.cuttinghorseforum.com by some with little experience, yet they make perfect sense and good arguments. Study, learn and make sound, reasoned and logical arguments. If you have done that, you have done your job. It may not effect a change today, but it could in the future.

And after you have done all you can, make a choice. In or out but get over it!

Some of you out there may believe you could have written this opinion piece had you taken the time, or maybe you know of someone who could have written it. I am sure there are many of you who share the above views but have not taken the time to articulate them.

Steve Warren
St. Louis, MO


I appreciate the above experience and opinion piece and I encourage others to send me their opinions for publication. Obviously, I'm not short of opinions; however, I'm sure there are a lot of you out there who also have opinions that really make sense. E-mail them to me at glory@glorykurtz.com.

Thank you,
Glory Ann Kurtz

July 23, 2008

Even when commodity prices rise, the effect on retail food prices is relatively small

There are 56 pounds of corn in a bushel. When corn is $6.00 per bushel, a pound of corn is worth 10.7 cents. At $4.00 per bushel, a pound of corn is worth 7.1 cents.

According to the Beef Checkoff, it takes 2.6 pounds of corn to produce one pound of beef, live weight (includes bone, fat, etc.). This equates to 28 cents per pound when corn is $6.00 per bushel—or just 18.6 cents when corn is $4.00.

It takes 2.0 pounds of corn to produce one pound of chicken, live weight, according to the National Chicken Council. This equates to 21.4 cents worth of corn when corn is $6.00 per bushel; just 14.3 cents when corn is $4.00.

A $3.39 box of Wheaties contains 19 cents of wheat. By the way, putting Tiger Woods’ picture on the box adds 10 cents.

A $2.59 loaf of white bread contains 14 cents worth of wheat.

A 16.3 oz jar of peanut butter contains about 36 cents worth of peanuts.

A can of soda includes 2 cents worth of corn sweetener.

For more information, go to www.texaspricecheck.com

July 22, 2008 

USEF Statement on Upcoming HBO Eventing Special

Tuesday, July 22nd, @ 10pm, HBO Real Sports will air its story on Eventing. While we certainly hope the story will be balanced and accurately portray our sport, we are concerned by the preview HBO sports put out late last week. The story is entitled "Deadly Ride" and features among others, an interview with a mother who has tried to force her daughter to stop eventing.

USEF President David O'Connor did a lengthy interview for the story with Real Sports correspondent Frank DeFord. In the interview, David provided DeFord with important context around the recent spate of accidents and talked at length about what the sport was doing to improve safety. We feel like the interview went well. But of course, we do not control how much of the interview will be used in the final story.

We were encouraged that the story's producer, Tim Walker, attended the USEF/USEA Safety Summit in June. He sat through each session and said later that he felt he had learned quite a bit about the sport. So while we are a bit troubled by the sensationalistic title and description of the HBO story, we will withhold final judgment until after we've seen it. But we are prepared to respond vocally to HBO, if warranted.

We wanted to take the chance, as we come under the microscope again, to remind everyone that our commitment to safety is unwavering. In 2008, the following rule changes were passed:

If a competitor falls on course, related to a fence it will result in elimination.
By 2009 all open oxers at the Preliminary Level and above must be designed using frangible technology.
Tougher qualification standards (starting December 1) that will require four clean cross-country rounds (as well as qualifying dressage and stadium jumping scores) to move up a level.
Since the Eventing community came together in June for the USEF/USEA Safety Summit a number of important initiatives are in the works.

The USEF has assumed the cost for frangible pins for licensed competitions.
The USEF Fall Form was updated to better track what type of fences cause falls.
The USEF Watch List is being finalized to put riders on notice that they have been observed riding dangerously at a licensed competition.
The role of officials has been expanded so that a larger group of officials can pull someone up on course if they are riding dangerously.
There is a renewed commitment to education, and the organizations are dedicated to having 500 instructors by the end of 2010 through the Instructors Certification Program.
Veterinarians feel that mandating necropsies on any horse that suffer a fatality at a USEA recognized competition is vital in gathering data and understanding accidents and trends. The USEA will assume the full cost of these necropsies.
We would also like to hear what your thoughts/reaction to the HBO story or about safety in general. So please email us at: safetythoughts@usef.org or safety@useventing.com.

Source: www.usef.org

CRP haying & grazing on hold pending compromise
Issued Friday, July 18, 2008, 9:51 AM

by Peter Shinn

Judge John Coughenour of the Western District of Washington Federal Court in Seattle on Thursday declined to make permanent a temporary injunction he issued on July 8th that had blocked the penalty-free release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for haying and grazing. Instead, Coughenour extended the temporary injunction and ordered the plaintiffs in the case, the National Wildlife Federation and six of its state affiliate groups, to compromise with USDA in reaching a solution that would allow limited haying and grazing of CRP acres but would not harm wildlife.

However, until that compromise is reached, livestock producers who had planned to hay or graze their CRP acres are in a holding pattern. And some of those producers have made expensive preparations, like digging wells and putting in fences, to prepare to hay or graze their land in CRP.

Farm Service Agency personnel in Washington D.C. declined to comment while the court case is still pending. But Jim Book, program specialist with the Iowa Farm Service Agency, told Brownfield his orders from Washington are to hold tight for now.

"We've just received an e-mail from D.C. and it basically says that, 'Yesterday the temporary restraining order was extended pending further proceedings and that all previous instructions apply until further notice,'" Book said.

Haying and grazing of CRP acres wouldn't have started until after the bird nesting season in any event. In Iowa, that would be August 2nd, but the date varies by state.

Animal rights activists and ranchers are clashing

Reno, Nev. (AP) -- Animal rights activists and ranchers are clashing over a federal proposal to euthanize wild horses as a way to deal with their surplus numbers.


Horse advocates will mount a campaign against the proposal announced late last month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute based in Washington, D.C.

Federal officials said they're faced with tough choices because wild horses have overpopulated public lands in the West and they no longer can afford to care for the number of animals that have been rounded up.

But Heyde maintained the agency is seeking a "magic bullet" for budget problems caused after it began rounding up the mustangs at an unprecedented rate in recent years.

He said the roundups left too many horses for the public to adopt, requiring the agency to contract for more private long-term holding facilities.

The proposal "is killing pure and simple to balance the books for an agency whose reckless management has caused immeasurable harm to a national treasure at considerable cost to the American taxpayer," Heyde said.

Ron Cerri, of the Rebel Creek Ranch in Orovada and president-elect of the Nevada Cattlemen's Association, said ranchers would prefer horses be adopted but euthanasia may be necessary to keep their numbers down.

"Unfortunately, it's something they'll have to consider," Cerri said. "I don't know of another solution."

Cerri criticized the federal agency's proposal to stop roundups of wild horses to save money. Ranchers view mustangs as competition for forage on the range.

"That would be really unfortunate," he said. "We're starting to get close to what's called `appropriate management levels' of wild horses on the range. If we stop the roundups, that number will blow up again."

There are an estimated 33,000 wild horses in 10 Western states. About half of those are in Nevada.

The agency has set a target appropriate management level of horses at 27,000. About another 30,000 horses are in holding facilities, where most are made available for adoption.

Last year about $22 million of the entire horse program's $39 million budget was spent on holding horses in agency pens. Next year the costs are projected to grow to $26 million with an overall budget that is being trimmed to $37 million.

Lacy Dalton, president and co-founder of the Let 'Em Run Foundation horse advocacy group, urged the agency to consider alternative solutions.

They include efforts to step up birth control and legislation to provide tax breaks to large landowners willing to let horses roam on their property, she said.

"The American people have spoken - they want to preserve these wild horses," said Dalton.

"They are symbolic of the wildness and freedom and independent spirit of the West. We need to find ways to save them without being a burden on taxpayers," she added.

Agency officials said they stepped up the roundups in recent years because of ongoing drought that has left dwindling forage and water for the mustangs. Horse advocates insist the action was taken to placate ranchers.

The Bureau of Land Management's announcement marked the first time the agency publicly has discussed the possibility of putting surplus animals to death. Congress unanimously passed the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to protect the animals.

By Martin Griffith, Associated Press Writer

July 18, 2008
Schafer Announces an Additional $202.5 Million for Voluntary Conservation Programs

WASHINGTON -Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced an additional $200 million will be made available through the 2008 Farm Bill to help farmers and ranchers nationwide to solve natural resource problems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). An additional $2.5 million will be available for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) in 16 states.

"These additional funds will assist farmers and ranchers in solving critical natural resource problems," Schafer said. "Voluntary incentive-based programs like EQIP and AMA are the key to helping producers meet their conservation goals and provide the public with important benefits such as cleaner water, improved air quality, healthy soils, and abundant wildlife."

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) administers EQIP and AMA, which provide financial and technical assistance to producers. Congress provided the extra funds for both programs for fiscal year 2008. Both programs were reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

EQIP helps farmers and ranchers improve agricultural production while protecting environmental quality. EQIP offers up to 75 percent in cost share to help producers install or implement structural and management practices on private agricultural land.

Limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for higher rates in EQIP-up to 90 percent in cost-share assistance-to address their natural resource issues. USDA can provide incentive payments to encourage producers to adopt conservation practices that would result in extra environmental benefits.

With this extra funding, USDA has provided a total of $1.2 billion available to producers in fiscal year 2008 for EQIP. To date, approximately 38,000 producers signed contracts covering nearly 14 million acres valued at almost $745 million for EQIP.

AMA offers farmers and ranchers cost-share of up to 75 percent and incentive payments to address risk management concerns to their agricultural enterprises linked to water management, water quality and erosion control. The program is available in the following 16 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low:

Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. Hawaii was added this fiscal year when Congress authorized the 2008 Farm Bill.

USDA has provided $7.5 million to producers in 15 states for AMA thus far this fiscal year. Producers have signed 181 contracts covering 13,100 acres valued at about $3.4 million.

For additional information about EQIP, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip. For additional information about AMA, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ama.

Source: www.usda.gov

July 17, 2008
AHC Publishes Horse Industry Guide to the 2008 Elections

Washington, DC - The American Horse Council has released “Getting Involved in the 2008 Elections,” a federal election guide for the horse industry. The guide stemmed from the program at the AHC’s National Issues Forum in Washington explaining how the horse industry could take advantage of the 2008 federal elections to get more involved with their elected representatives.

“The 2008 elections are a great opportunity for horse associations, businesses and individuals to step up and be heard by the candidates, incumbents and those running for the first time,” said AHC Chairman Nick Nicholson. “Remember, they want to hear from you, they want your help and most of all they want your votes. This is an opportunity to educate them about the issues important to the horse community and show them your votes are important.” The AHC 2008 election guide explains how to do this.

The guide discusses why the horse industry should get involved in the upcoming elections and ways individuals and organizations can go about doing so. It includes sections on why candidates care about the horse community, being able to communicate issues of importance to the horse industry, getting to know the candidates, volunteering and fundraising, as well as knowing the laws governing political activities.

“I believe this guide will be an important resource for all members of the horse community who wish to play a greater role in the democratic process,” said AHC President Jay Hickey.

Copies of “Getting Involved in the 2008 Elections” can be obtained by contacting the AHC at (202) 296-4031 or by email at ahc@horsecouncil.org.

Source: www.horsecouncil.org

July 16, 2008

Penn National Gaming Implements Equine Health and Safety Initiatives

WYOMISSING, Pa., Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Penn National Gaming, Inc., the second largest owner of pari-mutuel racing facilities in North America, today announced the implementation of several initiatives intended to ensure the continued health and safety of equine participants at its racetracks. These initiatives include limiting the height of toe grabs on front shoes worn by race horses, endorsing rules for new riding crops for Thoroughbred jockeys, and recommending, at a minimum, the adoption of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) model rule regarding Androgenic Anabolic Steroids.
The initiatives follow the recently issued recommendations of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee. Founded in 1894, the Jockey Club is dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing and is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds.
"Penn National Gaming endorses and embraces The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee's recommendations which are sound steps toward ensuring the health and welfare of our equine participants," said Chris McErlean, Vice President of Racing for Penn National Gaming. "We have outlined a plan to introduce several of these recommendations at our horse racing facilities over the next few months. In addition, we will actively promote the adoption of permanent rules and regulations for these items with regulators in every one of the six jurisdictions where we conduct racing. We have identified several other areas where information, uniformity and cooperation are needed to achieve additional results to benefit the industry and expect that other responsible pari-mutuel facility owners and industry leaders will follow our actions."
Penn National Gaming owns and operates gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. The Company presently operates nineteen facilities in fifteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario. Penn National is the second largest owner of pari-mutuel facilities in North America and conducts over 1,000 dates of live racing annually. Total wagering at its pari-mutuel facilities on live and simulcast racing totaled nearly $850 million in 2007.
SOURCE: Penn National Gaming, Inc.

July 15, 2005

Olympic Equestrian Events to Get Television Coverage

 NBC Universal will be airing 3,600 hours of coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This includes the equestrian events, which will be taking place in Hong Kong.

The schedule is as follows:

Date: Program--Time (EST) on Channel

Aug. 9: 3-Day: Dressage--2:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on USA
Aug. 11: 3-Day: Cross- Country--6:00pm-8:00pm OXYGEN
Aug. 12: 3-Day: Stadium Team Gold Medal Final--6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on OXYGEN
Aug. 13: Dressage--6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on OXYGEN
Aug. 14: Dressage Team Gold Medal Final--6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on OXYGEN
Aug. 15: Show Jumping--6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on OXYGEN
Aug. 16: Dressage Individual--5:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. MSNBC
Aug. 17: Show Jumping Team Gold Medal Final 1st Round--10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m on NBC
Aug. 18: Show Jumping Team Gold Medal Final Round--6:00pm-8:00 p.m. OXYGEN
Aug. 19: Dressage Individual Gold Medal Final--6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on OXYGEN
Aug. 21: Show Jumping Individual Gold Medal Final--10:00am-1:00 pm

July 14, 2008

SALE REPORT FOR June 28-29 Billings Livestock Market
Ride Ready Geldings

Good geldings aplenty, the finished, fit, and fancy kind lead the charge at Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” June 28-29.

A jumbo selection of 993 head of horses, 430 plus buyers, and 35 roping steers headed to the Big Sky for the two-day summer supersale - and, hear the news - in all divisions, all classes - sale averages held steady or beat the final figures from one year ago.

Top ten averaged $7,200, compared to $7,025 in 2007, top 20 brought $5,932 compared to $5,832, and the top 100 averaged $3,402 against $3,468 one year ago.

Pass outs or no-sales were cut in half over 2007 figures with 64 head of the 993 horses “no-saled” by the consignor compared with 144 of 874 last year.

For the second straight month and the third sale this year, a barrel horse has claimed the number one selling position of the weekend at Billings Livestock.

Wearing the signature black color stamped by his $3 million dollar sire “Dash For Perks” Hip 183 “Pistol Pete Perks” was out of a 1-D daughter of Jet’s Pay Day and came hauled and winning at jackpots and rodeos.

Offered by Kylan Campbell, Harrison, AR the quality gelding brought $11,000 and sold to Jeff Link, Billings, MT.

Buckskins ruled supreme as a special session of buckskins crowned the June event with the top selling buckskin bringing $8,000 and the top five wearing the butterscotch tint averaging $6,740.

At the top of the buckskin list, Hip 45 “Pistol” a nine-year-old grade gelding offered by Bruce Nelson, Pine Bluffs, WY came honest, gentle, parade broke, ranch ridden, and attractive - and sold to Michelle Porter, Colburn, CO for $8,000.

Well attended previews included a “Team Penning” competition on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday a full saddle and ride horse exhibition bonused by team sorting, cutting, and rope horse previews.

One owner and another pretty buckskin, Hip 89 “Biebers Shiner” a 2001 AQHA Gelding sired by Great Jab O Lena and out of a daughter of Doc’s Oak was raised and offered by Leroy Beiber, Leola, SD.

Broke, strong built, and sensible, the gelding brought $5,900 and sold to Charles Jerviss, Oak View, CA.

A steady summer loose horse market prevailed as the top five prospects averaged $1,540 against$1,350 one year ago; top ten averaged $1,347 vs. $1,142 in ‘07; Top 20 brought $1,115 compared to $946; top 50 came in at $828 against $704; and the top 100 averaged $643 compared to $563 last year.

July 11, 2008

It's Rodeo time 

Be sure to come out and enjoy all the fun at Arrowhead Saddle Club annual Rodeo.  Voted 2007 MRCA Rodeo of the year, 2008 promises to be even better.   Tonight the fun starts at 7pm with the mutton busting, for kids.  Rodeo is at 8.  There are concessions on the grounds, and more port-a-potties!!  Saturday night the events start a 5 pm with free horse rides.  Mutton busting at 7 and the Rodeo at 8.  Rodeo dance will be after the rodeo.   We  have put down fresh gravel so come out rain or shine...Come by and see me in the cook shack!!

July 10, 2008

NCHA Triple Crown Pays Out $10 Million

The National Cutting Horse Association, which is about to pass the $600 million milestone in purses awarded since its inception in 1946, will mark another landmark this year with a total of $10 million awarded in the Triple Crown events that culminate with the 2008 NCHA Derby on August 3.

NCHA Triple Crown purses have increased 55 percent in the past five years, surpassing Thoroughbred racing’s total Triple Crown purse (from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) by $6 million, and Quarter racing’s Triple Crown (Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American futurities) by $7 million.

“The excitement and popularity of cutting horse competition have driven the phenomenal growth we’ve seen in our Triple Crown events,” said NCHA executive director Jeff Hooper. “We’ve hosted a total of well over 5,000 entries at the three shows.

“It’s also worth noting that while the owner of a Kentucky Derby starter pays a minimum of $50,000 to enter the Triple Crown events, NCHA Futurity contestants can take a shot at a bigger purse for $2,500.”

In 2007, purses for all NCHA events amounted to over $43 million, exceeding that of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, whose signature event is the $5.6 million National Finals Rodeo, at the end of each year in Las Vegas. According to a recent article in the New York Times, PRCA reported total purses of $40 million for its 2007 season.

The annual NCHA Triple Crown trail begins with the $4.4 million NCHA Futurity in December, and continues with the $3.4 million Super Stakes in April, followed by the $2.2 million Derby, a division of the Summer Spectacular. All three events are held at Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX.

With a victory in the 2008 NCHA Derby High Brow CD, winner of the NCHA Futurity and co-champion of the NCHA Super Stakes, would become just the fourth horse in history to win cutting’s Triple Crown. Chiquita Pistol was the last Triple Crown winner, in 2003. Smart Little Lena and Docs Okie Quixote, in 1983 and 1984, are the only other Triple Crown champions.

July 9, 2008 

Nebraska to Host 2009 National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium

The 32nd Annual National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium, presented by the American Youth Horse Council (AYHC), will be held on March 27-29, 2009 in Lincoln, NE. The University of Nebraska will host the event. The 2009 event will boast more than two-dozen internationally and nationally respected presenters assembled to share their keys to successful youth horse programming and horse management. Attendees will find resources, referrals, and networking to improve their ability to help connect kids through horses. A weekend program for teen leaders is always a favorite bringing youth participating in many different horse disciplines and breed activities together to learn leadership skills and effective horsemanship techniques.

“The University of Nebraska is excited to be able to host the AYHC symposium and showcase beautiful downtown Lincoln and the Nebraska horse industry,” said Kathy Anderson, chair of the Symposium Committee and AYHC President. The symposium attracts a broad representation of youth horse leaders from breed associations, equine sport organizations, Cooperative Extension, universities, and the crucially important hands-on youth leaders from such groups as 4-H, U.S. Pony Club, National High School Rodeo, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and more.

The Symposium will again include a variety of presentations including live horse demonstrations, roundtable sessions, and classroom presentations on a variety of topics. Additionally, kickoff reception, vendor booths, a silent auction and the Youth Leaders Celebration Awards Banquet allow attendees to have fun and interact throughout the weekend. A pre-conference tour will provide an excellent kickoff to the Symposium and offer participants an extra day of educational activities in Nebraska.

Make your plans to join the youth horse industry in Nebraska in 2009! The conference facilities of the Holiday Inn in downtown Lincoln coupled with the educational and networking opportunities offered by top notch presenters make this a must attend event.

For more information visit www.ayhc.com, or call (800) TRY-AYHC, or email info@ayhc.com.

Source: www.usef.org

July 8, 2008
Whitfield Anticipates Further Federal Action On Horse Racing

The Congressman who spurred a hearing on equine safety and drug issues believes further action will be required.

Representative Ed Whitfield (R-Kentucky), the ranking member on the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection subcommittee that conducted the June 19 hearing, said federal legislation is a strong possibility at this point.

“It is clear that the 38 different state racing commissions, as well as the numerous other interest groups, are not in a position to protect this industry,” Whitfield said through his press secretary. “Following last month’s hearing, it has become apparent that Congress will no longer allow the status quo.”

Whitfield found some of the testimony to be “riveting,” and noted that it will take some time for Congress to determine its next move. He said in the coming weeks and months, he looks forward to meeting with more industry leaders.

Ed Martin, President of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, a trade association that includes representatives from each racing state’s regulatory body, is concerned that federal oversight could lead to more bureaucracy. Also, he is not sure how such federal regulation would be funded.

Source: www.hbpa.org

July 7,  2008
National Reined Cow Horse Association Announces Revolutionary Program for Affiliates 

In March of 2008 - The National Reined Cow Horse Association has announced that every NRCHA Affiliate is eligible to receive two Youth Scholarships funded by the National Reined Cow Horse Foundation.

The Youth Affiliate Scholarships will go to the year-end Youth Bridle and Youth Limited Champions of each NRCHA Affiliate, according to NRCH Foundation President and Chairman, John W. Hyde. Each Youth Champion in those two events, beginning in 2008, will be eligible for a $500 and $250 scholarship, respectively.

“The National Reined Cow Horse Foundation is committed to supporting the youth in our industry,” said Hyde. “By investing in the youth programs of NRCHA Affiliates across the country, the NRCH Foundation is helping build the next generation of talented riders and competitors which in turn will strengthen the NRCHA and help it continue to grow as the leading national association for reined cow horses and reined cow horse competitions.”

With 33 affiliates around the world, the benefits of this new program will reach and assist youth around the globe. “Plus,” added Hyde, “it is a way to support the National Reined Cow Horse Association Affiliates in their role of promoting this industry and the National Reined Cow Horse Foundation was formed to support, build and promote the tradition of the reined cow horse.”

The NRCHA’s new attention to assisting its affiliates came following the NRCHA’s Fort Dodge Celebration of Champions, where an Affiliate Meeting brought regional concerns to the attention of the NRCHA’s Affiliate Committee members. That committee then relayed those concerns to the NRCHA Executive Committee and NRCH Foundation.

“This new Affiliate Youth Scholarship program is the first response to the feedback we received at that meeting,” said Howard Erenberg, NRCHA Vice President and NRCH Foundation Board Member. “The NRCHA Executive Committee and NRCHA Board of Directors are also looking at further ideas to benefit and support our affiliates and we hope to make more announcements soon.”

According to Erenberg and Hyde, the NRCH Foundation Board has considered some sort of expanded youth scholarship but wanted to make sure that existing funding and support would allow this to become an ongoing program. “We didn’t want to do it for just one year,” noted Erenberg. “We are making a long-term commitment to our Affiliates and to the youth of the reined cow horse world.”

NRCHA President Lyn Anderson said, “I, personally, talked to several affiliate representatives before and since the affiliate meeting, and, like the result of the board, want to be responsive to their needs. I think is a good first step.”

Carri Warren, NRCHA Records Coordinator, works closely with the various affiliates and she was excited about the new program. “This is very innovative and will, no doubt, be welcomed by the Affiliates as a way to benefit the youth of their area.”

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Wayne Hodges 4-Star Trailers and Outlaw Conversions, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, Gist Silversmiths, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Quarter Horse News & Performance Horse magazine, the Peppermill Hotel/Resort, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.

July 2, 2008
Suffolk Downs Begins Zero-Tolerance Slaughter Policy

Suffolk Downs has established a new policy holding trainers accountable when their horses are sold for slaughter.

Sam Elliott, the track’s vice president for racing, has informed the leadership of the New England Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association that any trainer found to have sold a horse for slaughter will have his stalls revoked and be denied stalls at any time in the future.

Elliott said the plan has the complete backing of Richard Fields, the real estate and casino developer who purchased a controlling interest in Suffolk Downs last year.

“If a horse goes from here to the slaughterhouse, that's completely unacceptable,” Elliott said. “That trainer won't be here. I don't think that's anybody we'd want to have around. Mr. Fields is a strong believer in retirement idea. He's a big backer of it. The two are incompatible.”

Elliott commended local horsemen and several local Thoroughbred retirement organizations for offering several options for retiring racehorses.

“I think it's become a non-issue,” Elliott said. “The best way to make it a real non-issue is to have this kind of sanction in place. That's our policy. My hope is we never have to use it.”

Elliott intends to address horsemen at a general meeting within the next two weeks.

“They would have our backing,” said Al Balestra, president of the New England HBPA. “It's not the proper thing to do, not with all the options they have. There's no reason why that should happen nowadays. There shouldn't be any horses going to killers. It's a different era in racing, it just shouldn't happen.”

Michael Blowen, president of Old Friends Farm in Midway, Kentucky, and an outspoken advocate for Thoroughbred retirement issues, said the new Suffolk Downs policy is the best news he has heard in years.

“That's great. I've never heard of it before. You don't know how many horses this is going to help,” Blowen said. “Just the threat of knowing that if they ever found out that you sold a horse for slaughter you could lose your stalls may prevent a lot of this from gong on in the first place. The other tracks will start looking at that.”

Blowen noted that it may be difficult to prove a direct link between a trainer and a horse that winds up in a slaughter pen.

“It is hard, it's a nasty circuitous trail, and of course anybody that does it doesn't want to get caught,” he said.

Blowen, who worked as a hot walker at Suffolk Downs in the late 1990s, said he remembers gut-wrenching scenes in the track's stable area of horses being loaded onto trucks bound for slaughterhouses.

“I still think it's an issue,” he said. “It's a problem with every track. Since the fairs have been closed in Massachusetts, it's not as big a problem. It's not that hard to do a better job. All we have to do is find people that are willing to play by the rules.”

Diana Baker, a former Thoroughbred Retirement Fund board member who has been involved with several high profile cases, said the new policy is a positive step but that she believes there are still some horses going from the track to slaughterhouses.

“I hope it’s not just lip service,” Baker said. “It would be a breath of fresh air to have someone in racing actually protect the horses.”

She agreed that it may be difficult to make a direct connection between a trainer and a horse sold for slaughter.

“That’s a tough call, it will be interesting to see how it plays out,” she said. “It’s an open secret how these horses get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B.’ The trainers always say they don’t know. When you’re pulling horses that were trained or owned by the same people over and over again, it doesn’t add up, it doesn’t make sense.”

Source: www.hbpa.org

July 1, 2008

AVMA Testifies on Antimicrobial Resistance Before Senate Committee

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.
— The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, addressing the preventative use of antimicrobials in food animals and reiterating the necessity of antibiotic use in livestock for ensuring food safety.

Dr. Lyle P. Vogel, AVMA's assistant executive vice president, testified at the hearing, which focused on the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant "superbugs" in humans. Mollifying concerns that use of antimicrobials – such as penicillin and tetracycline – in food animals leads to human resistance of the drugs, Vogel made clear that protecting human health is paramount to America's veterinarians.

"Because veterinarians are ethically charged with promoting public health in addition to protecting animal health and welfare, we participate in the prevention of both human and animal disease," Vogel told the committee.

Vogel stated that scientific data does not support a ban on the preventative use of antibiotics in food animals.

"Risk assessments demonstrate a very low risk to human health from the use of antimicrobials in food animals, and some models predict an increased human health burden if the use is withdrawn," Vogel testified. "Non-risk based bans of approved uses of antimicrobials will negatively impact animal health and welfare without predictably improving public health."

Antibiotic resistance in some instances, he added, is ten times greater in Denmark than in the United States despite a Danish ban since the 90s on some uses of the drugs.

Vogel told the committee that the Food & Drug Administration's evaluations of antibiotics used in livestock are more stringent than for human antibiotics. The FDA evaluates each food animal antibiotic for human, environmental and animal safety, and additionally, public and private surveillance systems monitor the use of the drugs for the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

The AVMA's written testimony and information about the issue will be posted on the AVMA's food safety advocacy web site, www.keepourfoodsafe.org.

 

I have been on vacation and have enjoyed it very much inspite of the rain.  Sorry for letting the web site go I promise to get mbakc i the swing of things...

MANDY MCCUTCHEON TAKES NON-PRO RIDING I SPIN FOR CHICS

June 29, 2008 – Oklahoma City, Okla.
History was made on the night of June 28, 2008, in the historic coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Okla., as NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Shawn Flarida maneuvered Wimpys Little Chic to the NRHA Derby Championship with a 233 score.

The win made the 4-year-old mare, owned by Eleuterio Arcese of Arcese Quarter Horses from Italy and Texas, the only horse in National Reining Horse Association History to ever win the top three events the sport has to offer: the NRHA Futurity, the National Reining Breeders Classic, and the NRHA Derby – what is essentially reining’s version of a Triple Crown.

Flarida won a cool $50,000 on the mare; however, after placing on two other horses in the Derby, his take-home pay totaled $82,607.55 – putting him within $115,000 of hitting the unprecedented $3 Million Dollar Rider mark.

The Reserve title went to Tinsel Jac, ridden by Andrea Fappani, San Marcos, Calif., who scored a 227 and took home the $39,065 Reserve paycheck. The 6-year-old palomino stallion sired by Dolls Union Jac out of Holly Tinseltown by Primary Pine, is owned by Tinsel Jac Partners from Mexico. Fappani also finished third riding Spooks Gotta Gun for Duane Hicks, Marietta, Okla. His 225 score earned him an additional $30,989.47.

The Intermediate Open Derby was split by Jared T. Leclair riding Rootin Tootin Dunit, a 4-year-old stallion by Gallo Del Cielo out of This Is How Its Dun by Hollywood Dun It, owned by the Wolf Stem Partnership, Horse Cove, Ky., and Jason Vanlandingham, riding Gallos Stylish Star, also sired by Gallo Del Cielo and out of A Stylish Queen by Docs Stylish Oak, owned by Anthony Boerma, Pauls Valley, Okla. Both scored a 221.5 and took home a check for $11,431.83. The Limited Open winner was Gabriel B. Diano riding Whiz Shady MA for Roberto Jose Ribas, scoring a 219.5. The pair won $2,352.81.

NRHA’s only Non-Pro Million Dollar Rider Mandy McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, repeated her Derby win of 2007 when she again won the Non-Pro Derby riding I Spin For Chics, a 5-year-old stallion sired by Tangys Classy Peppy out of Chics Koko Angel by Smart Chic Olena. The pair also previously won the Non-Pro title at the 2008 National Reining Breeders Classic and took Reserve titles at the 2006 NRHA Futurity and the 2007 NRBC.

The Non-Pro Reserve title was split between Jessicah Keller, Fayetteville, Tenn., riding Helluva Chex, a 4-year-old stallion sired by Nu Chex To Cash out of Full Sis by Peppy San Badger, owned by Hilldale Farm and Sandra Bentien, Auburn, Calif., riding Make It With A Twist, a 6-year-old daughter of Dun It With A Twist out of SR Mischief Maker by Holidoc. The pair also won the Intermediate Non-Pro Championship. Lindy Longfellow, Hanford, Calif., won both the Limited Non-Pro and the Prime Time Non-Pro titles riding SLJ Sweet N Juicy, a 5-year-old daughter of Smart Like Juice out of Jacks My Sugar Daddy by Hollywood Jac 86.

 June 24, 2008

The AAEP has endorsed the three initial recommendations of The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee. The committee announced on Tuesday, June 17 that it is recommending the elimination of steroids in race training and racing, a ban on toe grabs, and a series of whip-related reforms, all aimed at improving safety and integrity in Thoroughbred racing.

Said AAEP President Dr. Eleanor Green, "The AAEP strongly supports the implementation of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee's initial recommendations and appreciates the committee's leadership at this critical time for the racing industry. Uniform medication rules combined with uniform testing procedures will ensure consistency in the administration of therapeutic medications and will bring tremendous benefit to the health and welfare of the racehorse. The AAEP strongly encourages the continued pursuit of uniformity by the racing industry and stands ready to contribute the expertise and perspective of racetrack practitioners to the dialogue."

To read the Thoroughbred Safety Committee's recommendations in their entirety, visit
http://www.jockeyclub.com/mediaCenter.asp?story=338 .

June 19, 2008

$600 Million Milestone for the NCHA

The National Cutting Horse Association will pass a milestone in the next few weeks when all-time purses paid out at NCHA-produced and approved shows will pass the $600 million mark.

The $600 million figure represents purses won by cutting horses since the NCHA’s foundation in 1946. Since that time, 62,900 horses have earned paychecks at NCHA shows. That makes cutting the richest performance horse discipline by far.

According to official NCHA records, individual horses have earned anywhere from a dollar or so back in the early days of the sport, to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, at latest count, 1,004 individual cutting horses have earned more than $100,000 in NCHA competition. There are 243 horses that have topped the $200,000 mark, and 78 have made $300,000 or more.

Interestingly, Poco Lena (pictured), the first inductee into the NCHA Hall of Fame, was foaled in 1949 and closed out her career with $99,819 in earnings. No horse foaled in the 1950s passed that mark, and Mr Holey Sox, a 1964 foal, was the oldest horse to earn a six-figure income.

With purses paid out easily topping $40 million annually in the last several years, NCHA is on pace to reach billion-dollar bragging rights within a decade

June 18, 2008
Supreme Court Says No to Horse Slaughter
Cavel International won’t reopen its doors.

On June 16, the Supreme Court declined an appeal that could have allowed DeKalb, Ill., horse slaughtering plant Cavel International Inc. to reopen for business. Cavel’s owners were challenging an Illinois law that prohibits the killing of horses for human consumption.

This is not the first time Cavel has lost an appeal. The facility was ordered to close last year after a federal appellate court upheld the Illinois ban. This time around the company was urging the Supreme Court justices to step in to allow the facility to reopen. The high court did not comment on its order Monday.

June 17, 2008

PRIZES AND PAYCHECKS HIGHLIGHT NRCHA DERBY
 Paso Robles, Calif.

An old cowboy once said, “I enter to have fun. But the more I win, the more fun I have.” If that’s the case, entries at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Derby, held June 17-22 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, Calif., will have a grand time.

This year, the Derby limited age event, alone, boasts added money of $162,500, and is expected to pay out nearly $360,000! That, added to the horse show, which includes the $50,000 Added Open Bridle Spectacular, will bring the total payout of the show to over $544,000!

But the money is only a part of the fun formula at the Derby. A bevy of prizes awaits the Champions at the NRCHA premier event.
The Open Derby Champion will receive a Bob’s Custom Saddle, courtesy of Centennial Cattle Company. Another Bob’s Custom Saddle will be awarded to the Non Pro Champion, sponsored by Dave Archer and Target Constructors.

Derby champions in each division receive a Tom Balding Silver Engraved Handmade Bit from Tom Balding Bits & Spurs; a pair of Rios of Mercedes Boots, from Rios of Mercedes; a CR Morrison Trophy and a Commemorative Medallion, sponsored by the NRCHA.

Division reserve champions will receive a Tom Balding Silver Accented Snaffle Bit, and a C.R. Morrison Commemorative Medallion from the NRCHA.

The owner of the Open Champion will be awarded the Jack & Phoebe Cooke Perpetual Trophy, and a replica trophy to keep, thanks to the support of Carol Rose and John & Brenda Stephenson.

All horse show champions will receive a C.R. Morrison NRCHA Trophy, sponsored by the NRCHA.

And all the booty is available at the show. While most horse shows wait to mail out checks after the event, the NRCHA Derby staff will have checks available for pick up soon after the results are finalized. Although paying out over a half-million dollars at a show causes a little extra work for the NRCHA staff, most agree the benefits greatly outweigh the cost.

Cheri Johnson, NRCHA Bookkeeper, explained the importance of a quick payout, “It’s great to see how pleased people are to be able to pick up their prize money at the show. In these tough economic times, knowing that we might have given them a financial cushion when they would have been waiting up to a month is very rewarding.”

June 16, 2008
Equestrian Trail Manuals Released

Lexington, Kentucky – The Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds, written by Jan Hancock in conjunction with U.S. Forest Service, has been released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This manual provides trail design and construction details, while explaining the particular physical and psychological needs of equines and their riders that necessitate them. The information in this guidebook is applicable to trails at all levels of development and locations.

Recreational Horse Trails in Rural and Wildland Areas: Design, Construction, and Maintenance was written by Gene W. Wood, in conjunction with 16 contributing authors. This guidebook concentrates specifically on horse trail development in rural and wild land areas. An emphasis is placed on trial design, construction and placement that will make long term use by equestrians possible. The American Horse Council was involved in facilitating the funding of this book.

Equestrian accessible trails are of the utmost importance to the horse community. Both of these books are needed and will be of great help to recreational riders throughout the country.

Equestrian Design Guidebook is offered free of charge online at the FHWA Web site http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232816/index.htm. A hard copy can be ordered through the FHWA Report Center: Recreational Trails Program Reports Order Form.

Recreational Horse Trails is available for a fee from Clemson University's Forestry and Natural Resources website at www.clemson.edu/forestres/.

If you have any questions please visit www.horsecouncil.org or call 202-296-4031.

Source: www.asha.net

June 13, 2008

The Stouffer Report: New Ag Bill Includes Fencing Supplies Tax Break

For the first time in three years, an omnibus agriculture bill has passed the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 931 was sponsored by Sen. Chuck Purgason of Caulfield. Practically the entire session was spent on this bill. It was introduced on the second day and sent to the governor’s desk on the second to last.

One of the most important parts of the bill – and something important to our area – is a sales tax exemption for fencing supplies. This has been on rural Missouri’s wish list for decades.

Senate Bill 931 also creates a tax credit for building a station selling alternative fuels. The tax credits would actually help cover the costs of installing the pumps and storage equipment for E85 and other alternative fuels. Other tax credits would be continued under the measure. The way the law currently reads, a qualified ethanol producer can get a monthly grant for using Missouri agricultural products to make the ethanol that is used for fuel. Fuel ethanol grant incentives paid for ethanol made from biomass will be available to two producers, for 10 years, starting in 2009.

Senate Bill 931 also covers other issues that have been ignored for too long and I am glad to see they are being addressed. This bill prevents the Missouri Department of Agriculture from making the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Identification System (NAIS) mandatory. It is currently voluntary. If the NAIS were to become mandatory, the legislature would have to authorize it.

Another aspect of Senate Bill 931 addresses the need for more veterinarians to take care of large animals in the state. In order for a student to benefit from the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program, he or she will have to be a legal resident. Right now, eligible veterinary students at the University of Missouri may be awarded up to $80,000 in Large Animal Veterinary Student loans. This bill says no more than $20,000 could be awarded during the course of a year. Those loans could not be granted retroactively. Loan forgiveness is also limited to $20,000 a year. Sen. Purgason’s bill also says the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program will expire on June 30, 2013.

There have been concerns in recent years that the legislature has been ignoring issues important to rural Missouri. Several of us in the legislature spent this year making sure our biggest industry – agriculture – was reflected as a priority in the Capitol as well.

June 12, 2008

CAN CUTTING BE A SPECTATOR SPORT?
By Glory Ann Kurtz

Can cutting be a spectator sport? I watch a lot of professional sports and most of them have a huge spectator base. But for years I’ve heard, “Cutting’s not a spectator sport.” If you sincerely believe that, it won’t be.

Cutting may not be as exciting as football, basketball or baseball, which all have a huge fan base. But it is exciting if you love cutting horses. However, the easiest way to run the spectators off is by not letting them get involved in the sport while they are watching it.

We used to have five scores on the scoreboard – which spectators liked, because they are judges at heart. They want to pretend they are judges and score a horse and then see how close they come to the judge’s score. However, over a year ago, the NCHA took that away – leaving the spectators only one composite score, made up of the total scores of three of the five judges. The high- and low-score had been dropped.

The forgotten spectator doesn’t know what score they knocked out – what the highest score was for that run – and what the lowest score was. The spectator has no idea if he judged “on the money” – or was way low or way high. In other words, the NCHA has taken all the fun out of it for the spectator. Spectators like being back-yard quarterbacks – they like to judge.

Besides that, they’ve about done away with the scoreboard. Spectators can hardly see the names, let alone the scores, unless they are standing directly in front of it. From what I've heard in the stands, whatever that scoreboard cost - it was too much.

Professional sports use instant replay and let the spectators make judgments for themselves. Baseball games, football games, ice skating, dancing, hockey, rodeo and even the PBR are great examples. In fact, I can’t think of a major sport that doesn’t post individual judges’ scores if there are multiple judges and that doesn’t offer immediate replays to the spectators. In fact, during the popular PBR bull riding events, where the stands are often sold out, they replay a buck-off five or six times and all the judges' scores are shown on national television.

Why can’t the NCHA do that? They already have the video and the ability to play it back on a big screen! If the crowd boos a score, why not show the run on the big screen and have a commentator (which they already have) give his educated opinion why the score was so low? The judges don’t have to hear what is said – we have those little “bugs” in our ears anyway and the screen is behind the judges. They can keep it a “secret” from the judges - they're good at keeping secrets.

If the NCHA doesn’t find a way to get the spectator involved, cutting will never be a spectator sport – and you’ve got to have spectators if you want sponsors to help fund the sport. There's got to be someone out there to look at their ad.

I’ve even had an out-of-state contestant tell me that they went home immediately after their run and called the NCHA office to see what their individual judges scores were – and the NCHA staff wouldn’t give the scores to them. They were told they had to come to the office in person. Sure – fly back to Fort Worth. What’s the big secret? He didn't ask for the judges' names - just the individual scores. However, in my opinion, if a judge isn’t willing to stand up to what he scored an individual – he shouldn’t be a judge. They get paid very well for their opinion – so why is the NCHA hiding it?

If the powers that be would spend some time trying to figure out how to get the spectators involved in the sport of cutting, I think cutting could be a spectator sport – anything would be better than the number of spectators that were at the Super Stakes.

June 11, 2008

Stolen Tack Around Kearney MO and Local Happenings

June 6, 2008 a report of stolen tack around Kearney Hwy 92/Cameron Rd area see the flyer The owner is offering a reward for the return of her property, but even more importantly lets fine the low life who did it. 

Versailles Saddle Club held their annual Ride for Life for the American Cancer Society on Saturday, May 31, According to event organizer Teresa Wiecken "It was GREAT! No rain a nice breeze all day to help with the heat & humidity. The trail ride and fun show combined raised a little over $3400 so we were pleased. We had about 85 riders & the fun show classes had an average of 15 or so.  We just keep growing!" Hopefully everyone can join this fine group of folks next year to help this great cause.

June 7th, The First Mo State FQHR held their Handy Ranch Horse Competition at Arrowhead Saddle Club arena.  There were about 20 horses and a great time was had by everyone.  Thanks to Rick Hultz who organized everything, and all the members who worked tirelessly to keep things going.

I will try to get a list of the winners posted soon.

Last weekend several Local barrel racers went to Columbia Mo to the NBHA Mo State Finals competing for $5559.00 in cash and other prizes.  Mary Sue Nolke, Brunswick was in the money in the 4D with a 4th place win and a time of 16.385.  Lynn Thompson, of Miami Mo was just out of the money when the split for 3D was won with a 15.069 and she ran a 15.047.  Kimberly Thompson, of Marshall Mo was in the 3D with a 15.276.  Devyn Sears, of Salisbury Mo ran a 14.995 in the youth.  All the racers were happy with their horses efforts.  Congratulations to all of them. 

Iavarone: Reason for Loss Unknown
by Blood-Horse Staff

One day after Big Brown was eased in his attempt to win the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and the Triple Crown as the 3-10 favorite, one of his co-owners said there is nothing physically wrong with the Boundary colt.

“We went over him good last night after the race, and again this morning, and there’s nothing physically that’s shown up,” IEAH Stables’ co-owner Michael Iavarone told the New York Racing Association media office. “I’m as confused as anybody. The only thing we’re resorting to right now is the track might have been too deep for him and he didn’t like it out there. He’s clean, he’s sound, he’s just angry.

"He scoped clean. His feet are ice cold--quarter crack not an issue. He had a very loose hind left shoe, but that’s not an issue. We’ll just chalk it up to a question mark at this point.

“I’m understanding they had an issue without water and they weren’t able to water the track and it got deep, I don’t know. We’re perplexed, nobody can figure this one out, the horse did not displace (his palate), he scoped fine, there’s no mucous, everything is ice cold. The horse that won, (Big Brown) had beaten him by 23 (lengths) in the Florida Derby and so, I don’t know. We just have to watch him carefully and make sure we didn’t miss anything.”

Iavarone said plans are for Big Brown, owned by IEAH and Paul Pompa, Jr., to maintain his regular training schedule with a planned start in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

“I love this horse,” Iavarone told the NYRA media office. “I’ve grown tremendously attached to this horse emotionally. I wanted him to know he could run dead last or first and we would still love him.”

Undefeated in five starts previous to the Belmont, Big Brown has earned $2,714,500. He will stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm upon retirement.

June 9, 2008

38 to 1 shot Da’Tara wins Belmont Stakes
No Triple Crown winner

“Long before the last turn I had no horse,” said jockey Kent Desormeaux following his Triple Crown bid on heavily favored Big Brown. Da’Tara, a 38 to 1 longshot, who had finished 23 lengths behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby, led from gate to wire in a five-length victory. His only previous win in seven career starts came in a maiden race last January.

Although Desormeaux eased Big Brown up to finish last, he said that he felt nothing amiss with the horse’s stride. Big Brown had been treated for a quarter crack in his left front foot, but was considered sound to race. Dr. Larry Bramlage, the equine specialist on hand for all of the Triple Crown races, said that there was no indication of injury during Big Brown’s veterinarian inspection immediately following the race.

Big Brown was “keen to go early,” according to Desormeaux, who guided the colt to a well-placed third on the backstretch, then felt his horse begin to lose ground. Trainer Rick Dutrow, who was confident before the race that a Triple Crown was a certainty, was unavailable for comment after the race, but his assistant reported that Big Brown had definitely not been injured.

Da’Tara, trained for Robert LaPenta for Nick Zito, was ridden by Alan Garcia, who had just two prior G1 wins. It was Zito-trained Birdstone who upset the last Triple Crown hopeful, Smarty Jones. Big Brown is the only Triple Crown hopeful to finish last in the Belmont Stakes.

Denis of Cork, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, then skipped the Preakness, placed second in the Belmont Stakes. Anak Nakal and Ready’s Echo made it a dead-heat for third. The winning time was 2:29.65.

June 6, 2008

A DIFFERENT BREED BUT SIMILAR GENETIC PROBLEMS
Glory Ann Kurtz

The collapse and euthanizing of Eight Belles, after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, has caused a huge controversy in racing circles. Not only is PETA upset, demanding that the jockey be brought to task – as well as criticizing Hillary Clinton for betting on the race - but veterinarians and breeders are demanding change in Thoroughbred racing. The only mare in the race broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized immediately on the track as she couldn’t physically get in the horse ambulance. And the worst part, it was seen by hundreds of thousands of people on national television.

The filly was the second recent high-profile Kentucky Derby entry that had to be put down for broken legs on the Churchill Downs race track – the first was Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby Champion, who broke down in the Preakness.

But breeders and veterinarians aren’t blaming the track. They are blaming the horses’ heritage. Both horses trace back to the legendary Native Dancer, a 1950s champion whose career was also cut short by leg injuries. According to an article by Jon Weinbach in the Wall Street Journal, Native Dancer’s descendants have shown the same fragile tendencies.

Native Dancer’s bloodline is noted among breeders for its ability to transmit his strong racing traits through both sons and daughters. In fact, the last 14 Kentucky Derby winners, including this year’s winner, Big Brown, are descendants of Native Dancer. The last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, is a relative, as is Cigar, racing’s all-time leading money earner, and Curlin, the richest current racehorse. In fact, all 20 thoroughbreds in this year’s Kentucky Derby had Native Dancer in their pedigree. But Eight Belles had more crosses to Native Dancer than most of the others – with her pedigree going back to Native Dancer through three grandparents.

Weinbach said that for the last 15 years, prices for young horses have risen and the Thoroughbred gene pool has been shrinking. The average price for a yearling at the Keeneland Yearling Sale has risen 41 percent since 2002 to $101,347. According to the Jockey Club, the number of stallions that have sired offspring has dropped by about 50 percent since 1992. A Thoroughbred consultant said that attempts by some breeders to expand the gene pool by importing stallions with new bloodlines haven’t been supported by the breeders and owners. “They want something that they can recognize and they feel has a better chance of success,” said Ric Waldman, an independent consultant.

SAME BOOK - DIFFERENT CHAPTER
As I was reading this article, I was struck with the similarity of the Thoroughbred problem with today’s cutting horse soundness problems. Veterinarians are making very good livings injecting hocks and stifles of cutting horses on a regular basis. OCDs are a common occurrence. Soundness problems are so prevalent that when you buy a young horse at a sale, there is a repository, where you can view x-rays taken of the horse’s legs.

During the recent NCHA Super Stakes, it was talked about extensively by Jim Ware on the “smart bug” that EVERY horse in the finals had Doc O’Lena in his pedigree. As each horse cut, he told how the horse’s pedigree traced back to Doc O’Lena.

Doc O’Lena is a very famous horse and the foundation of our cutting horse industry, but his progeny are known to have health issues – both in soundness and with HERDA, the horrible skin disease. Yes, there is now a test for HERDA so sound breeding practices could eliminate this disease – but I don’t see any movement toward breeding out the soundness problems.

Just like in the Thoroughbred industry, there has been a lot of talk about introducing outcrosses in the cutting horse industry – but to date, I haven’t seen much in the way of results.

I can transfer the last paragraph of the Wall Street Journal story to the last paragraph of this article, and one would ever know that Weinbach was talking about Thoroughbreds and I’m talking about cutting horses.

“What the market asks for, it’s going to get. It’s about money and it’s about ego.”

June 5, 2008

Horse Racing In Missouri Coming Back?

By: Ben Paynter State Capital Bureau

JEFFERSON CITY - While it is legal to bet on horse races in Missouri, the state remains without a racetrack as companies have found it difficult to make money with a limited number of racing days each year.

But legislation in the House would create the first in-state racing facility since voters approved the concept in 1984.

The proposal provides for "simulcasting" of races at tracks across the U.S., something supporters expect to spur funding for Missouri's first race track.

The House granted first-round approval this week.

"This would have a lot of agricultural opportunity with economic possibilities," sponsor Rep. Wayne Crump, D-Potosi, said.

Allowing Missouri patrons to bet on out-of-state races would generate year-round racing revenue in addition to the state's 50-day racing season.

"It meets the entertainment desires of people with discretionary time and discretionary money," said Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Joplin, sponsor of a similar Senate bill.

The Magna-Entertainment Corporation, a Canada-based racing company lobbying for simulcast betting in Missouri, operates similar programs at nine U.S. racetracks. It has proposed investing at least $25 million in a St. Louis racing facility.

"Full time simulcasting would generate the purses to attract horsemen," Don Amos of Magna said, pointing out that simulcast programs account for more than 80 percent of racing revenues.

A lobbyist for the riverboat casino industry testified in opposition, arguing that the proposal would not provide sufficient revenues for municipalities.

Sen. Doyle Childers, R-Barry, whose committee heard a similar bill last week said he also opposed expansion of the gaming industry.

"Gambling is the big issue behind it (simulcasting)," Childers said. "It's a major expansion of gambling in this state."

Crump said the legislation got a late introduction in the House, but he expects it to be pass quickly in both chambers, now that it is out of the gates.

The bill would also establish an as yet unspecified incentive for Missouri horse breeders with foals that win in the state.

"This is a Bright Flight for horses," Singleton said. "It gives money back to Missouri winners."

"Magna is fine, there just seems to be some problems with this legislation," Rhodes said.

Childers said the legislative stampede to push bills out before the end of the session makes the any horse racing bill a "low priority."

"There is no chance of it getting on the agenda," Childers said about the Senate version.

Crump remained optimistic about his version in the House.

"A lot of people have been disappointed because this never became a reality," he said.

June 3,2008

Triple Crown Mania

What do the lead up to the Belmont Stakes and this year’s national election have in common? A lot of gibberish on the part of the media. With the the outcome of Big Brown’s Triple Crown bid less than a week away, trainer Rick Dutrow has drawn fire for his confidence in the colt, while Big Brown’s owners have been criticized for their plans to retire him this year.

I am reminded of what Ron Turcotte told me, several years ago, about his confidence in Secretariat prior to the Kentucky Derby. Secretariat had suffered a stunning loss in the Wood Memorial and speculators were beginning to question his ability, especially at longer distances.

But Turcotte and trainer Lucien Laurin had discovered an abscess in Secretariat’s mouth to explain his Wood Memorial performance. “He was the type of horse that ran real strong against the bit, but everytime I pulled back on the bit (in the Wood Memorial), he would throw his head,” said Turcotte. “After that healed, I became very confident, maybe a little over-confident. But people were asking me and I’d say, yes, I’m going to win the Derby.

“They thought he couldn’t go the distance (in the Kentucky Derby) because he was by Bold Ruler, who had not thrown any horses that ran great distances,” he added. ”But I thought he was more like his grandfather, Princequillo. I told the owner and Mr. Laurin, if they were worried about going a mile and a quarter, I’d gallop him for the first quarter of a mile. We already knew he could outrun any horse going a mile. I was getting a little cocky, I guess.”

True to his word, Turcotte galloped Secretariat for the first quarter and drew back to last. But then he passed the wire with a mile to go and started picking up horses one by one. “When I called on him at the quarter pole, I had a tank full,” he said.

Secretariat finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of second-placed Sham in the record time of 1:59 2/5. To see the 1973 Kentcuky Derby, as well as Secretariat’s Preakness and Belmonts Stakes wins, click here.

“All the (Triple Crown) races on him were very exciting because they were all different,” said Turcotte. ”In the Kentucky Derby, I came from last and took the lead the last one-eighth mile. In the Preakness, I passed the whole field in the first turn. Sham, who in any other year would have won the Triple Crown, chased me and kept trying to get to me, but I just kept galloping on the lead.

“Then in the Belmont (photo), except for a few strides where Sham got a neck in front, we were in front all the way. It was like riding Pegasus, the horse with wings, he was just flying, but he was doing it very easy - just galloping.” Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths and set a world record for 1 1/2 miles in 2:24, a record that still stands.

Although he went on to win four more major stakes at three, because of a syndication agreement, Secretariat was retired at the end of his 3-year-old season. Said Turcotte, “Nobody ever saw the real Secretariat because he was just a baby when he was retired.”