Month: April 2015

May Calendar of Events

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The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association would like to share the following list of dates of interest to Louisiana horsemen and women.

Brought to you by Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana and  Western Bloodstock, LTD 

April 30; May 1, 2, 3

  • New Orleans Jazz Fest at the Fair Grounds
    No Visitors will be allowed access to the New Orleans office during these days.
    We apologize for any inconvenience.

May 1

  • LTBA Annual Meeting notice and invitation will be mailed. The Annual Meeting will be held June 6, 4:00 p.m. at Evangeline Downs.
  •  Louisiana Downs 2015 Season Opens.  Racing Wednesday-Saturday. First Post 3:15 CST
  • Tellike Stakes $60,000 Guaranteed, Evangeline Downs, Three-year-olds and up fillies and mares, 5 furlongs on the turf

May 2

  • Need for Speed Stakes $60,000 Guaranteed, Evangeline Downs, Three-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs on the turf
  • Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs and simulcast at Louisiana racetracks and OTB facilities

May 4

  • Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana Consignors Contracts will be mailed .

May 8

  • Members running for LTBA Board of Directors must have all information to the main office of the LTBA

May 16

  • Preakness Stakes, Pimlico Racetrack and simulcast at Louisiana racetracks and OTB facilities

May 18

  • LTBA 2015-16 Membership Application Forms will be mailed

May 30

  • Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint Day
  • Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint, $300,000 Guaranteed
  • Evangeline Downs, Three-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs on the turf
  • Evangeline Mile, $100,000 Guaranteed
  • Evangeline Downs, Three-year-olds and up, 1 mile
  • Opelousas Stakes, $100,000 Guaranteed
  • Evangeline Downs, Three-year-olds and up fillies and mares, 1 mile 1/16 on the turf
  • Layayette Stakes, $70,000 Guaranteed
  • Evangeline Downs, Three-year-old Louisiana Breds, 7 furlongs
  • Acadiana Stakes, $70,000 Guaranteed
  • Evangeline Downs, Three-year-old Louisiana Bred fillies, 7 furlongs

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter? Reach more than 3,000 readers.

Please contact Linda 985-386-0360,  linda@louisianabred.com“>linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676 , roger@louisianabred.com“> roger@louisianabred.com for cost and availability.Do you have a date pertaining to Louisiana breds that you would like included in an upcoming calendar? Please contact Linda 985-386-0360, linda@louisianabred.com“> linda@louisianabred.com  or Roger 504-947-4676,  roger@louisianabred.com“> roger@louisianabred.com for consideration. Any questions or need more info call:
Roger A. Heitzmann III, Secretary/Treasurer
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association
504-947-4676,
800-772-1195

TENSAS HARBOR TRIUMPHS IN THE MATRON STAKES

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LOUISIANA-BRED MARE WINS HER THIRD CONSECUTIVE STAKES RACE

OPELOUSAS, LA. � Tensas Harbor justified the public�s faith in her to win the $60,000 Matron Stakes, tonight�s featured race at Evangeline Downs. Tensas Harbor is owned by Cantrell Family Partnership Limited, trained by J. Keith Desormeaux and Diego Saenz was the winning rider.

Tensas Harbor needed the entire stretch to prevail over Hot Tempo, who had taken the lead on the far turn with an aggressive three-wide charge. Saenz had also sent Tensas Harbor into contention on the turn and eventually got past her foe to win by a length. Hot Tempo finished second, two and a quarter lengths ahead of Synapse, who was third.

The win by Tensas Harbor was her ninth in 25 lifetime starts and put her over the half-million dollar mark in lifetime earnings. The $36,000 first-place purse makes her career total $515,450. She covered the mile distance in 1:37.88. The Matron Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the sloppy main track after heavy rain had fallen in the Opelousas area during the afternoon.

Tensas Harbor is a 5-year-old mare by Private Vow, out of the Boston Harbor mare, Harbor Princess. The bay runner was bred in Louisiana by Curt Leake.

Tensas Harbor was sent off as the 3-2 favorite by the wagering public, paying $5.00 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Hot Tempo returned $8.00 to place and $6.80 to show, while Synapse paid $5.00 to show.

Evangeline Downs continues live racing on Saturday night with a 10-race program. The featured event on the Saturday card will be the $60,000 John Henry Stakes. String King, winner of the Grade 3 Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds last time out, is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Post time for the Saturday program is 5:40 pm Central Time.

For more information about the upcoming season at Evangeline Downs visit the track�s website at www.evangelinedownsracing.com <http://www.evangelinedownsracing.com> . For more details regarding this year�s $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint race go to www.evdracing.com/turf-sprint <http://www.evdracing.com/turf-sprint> .

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, just off I-49 at exit 18.

STORMDRIVER STORMS HOME IN JOHN HENRY STAKES

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JUMPS UP FROM A CLAIMING WIN TO A STAKES SCORE TONIGHT

OPELOUSAS, LA. � Fruition Racing LLC�s Stormdriver drew off from the competition to win the $60,000 John Henry Stakes, the Saturday feature at Evangeline Downs. Stormdriver is trained by Patrick Devereux Jr. and the winning rider was Diego Saenz, one of three victories on the Saturday program for Saenz.

Stormdriver raced in mid-pack early on before making an authoritative move at the top of the stretch and pulling away to an impressive 5 ? length victory. Even-money favorite String King did lead through the early stages, but was passed in the stretch and had to re-rally to preserve second. Skipberry Wine, a 29-1 longshot, finished third.

This was Stormdriver�s sixth win from 24 lifetime starts. The $36,000 first-prize purse increases his lifetime earnings to $194,377. He covered the 1 1/16 miles distance in 1:43.48. The John Henry Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the wet-fast main track after the Opelousas area experienced rain throughout the day.

Stormdriver is a 5-year-old horse by Discreet Cat, out of the Take Me Out mare Prom Date. The bay horse was bred in Louisiana by Tigertail Ranch.

Stormdriver was sent off at odds of 7-1 by the wagering public, paying $16.80 to win, $6.40 to place and $5.20 to show. String King paid $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. Skipberry Wine returned $12.20 to show.

Racing resumes at Evangeline Downs on Wednesday night with a 10-race program. First post time on Wednesday evening is 5:40 pm Central Time.

For more information about the upcoming season at Evangeline Downs visit the track�s website at www.evangelinedownsracing.com <http://www.evangelinedownsracing.com> . For more details regarding this year�s $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint race go to www.evdracing.com/turf-sprint <http://www.evdracing.com/turf-sprint> .

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, just off I-49 at exit 18.

LTBA office works through Jazz Fest

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jf-fg-clubhouse-in-bacgroundFair Grounds clubhouse can be seen behind the Jazz Fest crowd.

Every Spring as soon as the race meet concludes, Fair Grounds racetrack is invaded by preparations for the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. One might think that working in the LTBA office during Jazz Fest is one big party. There are perks, but working through is a bit of a challenge. �People are clamoring to come in. We �have� to come in,� says Roger Heitzmann, LTBA Secretary/Treasurer, with a chuckle.

Even before the first day of the fest arrives, LTBA employees are running an obstacle course. Instead of racehorses, office staff is dodging golf carts which speed out between barns without a glance. Once the festival actually begins, the first obstacle is actually getting to the Breeders trailer. Traffic backs up on the usually sleepy Belfort street from the gate to Gentilly. An extra 20 minutes can easily be added to the time to get to work. Errands such as running to the post office or bank are best done either after hours, or on days when music is not blaring from the stages. And the office is not accessible to anybody wishing to come in for official business.

Once in the office, it is entertaining to watch the parade of characters passing by. The dress code is mis-matched prints in every color of the rainbow and hats with more embellishments than the wildest Kentucky Derby chapeau. Rather than horsemen coming in the office with papers, lost volunteers stop in asking where they need to go. A sign in the bathroom states �Please help us keep our bathroom clean (or you will be fed to the scary critters residing in the dark, deep recesses beneath our trailer…And your don�t want that!!!)�

The LTBA trailer is situated nearest to the Congo Stage. On the first Friday of the 2015 fest, the closing act on this stage will be Jimmy Cliff with his mellow reggae. Unfortunately, during the day the office staff works through the pounding bass beat of rap and hip hop artists. Heitzmann, when asked about which stage he would prefer to provide the soundtrack for his day, replied apologetically, � I don�t know, because I don�t know who appears on any stage. I�ve reached a point in my life when I prefer reserved seats.� The rest of the staff is in agreement that they would move the trailer to either the Acura or Gentilly stages.

By far the largest perk of working on the Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest is the convenience of having access to the best food in the state, all in one place…crawfish in any form you can imagine…cochon de lait po-boys…duck and andoullie gumbo…..white chocolate bread pudding, etc. � I can get Prejeans� crawfish enchiladas without having to drive to Carenco.� says Heitzmann with grin.

jf-re-purposed-track
The racetrack has been re-purposed as a walkway for festival goers.

Call To Action. Oppose House Bill 596

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Members we need your help. This is a call to action for your help in defense of our Association. Please contact members of the House Commerce Committee and let them know that you oppose House Bill 596.

This bill requires monies currently dedicated and remitted directly to the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (LHBPA) , the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) , and the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) to be sent to the State Treasurer for deposit in the newly created Horse Industry Economic Sustainability Fund (HIES Fund).

This bill is unnecessary because it imposes oversight on these funds which is all ready in place.

The transfer of monies to the HIES Fund places those monies rightfully generated from our industry operations ( wagering, slots, and video poker from other racing facilities) under someone else’s control and may subject those monies to disbursement to others outside of racing who don’t deserve to share in these proceeds.

The bill also transfers monies that the LTBA and LQHBA receive to promote programs in the breeding industry. The breeding industry has an enormous economic impact on Louisiana through Breeders’ awards, job creation, and spending.

The bill attacks funds that support your benefit programs. Please note that these programs go a long way to provide benefits and help those on the racetrack who cannot afford to help themselves.

HB 596 will be heard in the House Commerce Committee on TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 AT 9:00AM.

Click here for a list of who is on the House Commerce Committee.

The Homes for Horses Coalition Announces 2015 Conference

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The Homes for Horses Coalition is proud to announce its 2015 Conference on September 25 and 26 in Irving, TX.  This is the only national conference specifically designed for horse rescues and sanctuaries, and those in the equine welfare and protection community.  Sharing support, collaborating and learning are the goals of the conference.  Cindy Gendron, Coordinator of the Coalition, said, �With the concerns and challenges of our members in mind, we have created a conference that addresses important topics such as improving adoptions through innovative marketing, working with law enforcement to advance equine welfare, increasing fundraising by developing major donors, and engaging communities with successful outreach.�  There will be plenty of time for networking and learning from peers which is always a highlight of this type of gathering of like-minded people.

Because of the generosity of the Coalition�s sponsoring organizations, the conference is offered at the minimal registration cost of only $25 for members and $75 for non-members.  �That�s an amazing price for this caliber of training and I hope that many take advantage of it,� says Gendron.  Our members are spread out all over the country and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to come together and share knowledge and community, and recharge for the good fight to save our nation�s equines.�  You can find more information and register online at http://tinyurl.com/ouqhkhg.

In addition to those operating equine rescue and retirement facilities, members of the Coalition include organizations involved in government policy affecting horses and other equines, and professionals in the field such as veterinarians and attorneys.  To have this cumulative expertise in one place at one time is a unique experience and as one attendee put it last year, �All rescues should find a way to come.  It is an amazing networking opportunity with people on the same mission.�

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About The Homes for Horses Coalition

The Homes for Horses Coalition is supported by the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals�), the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the United States� Jeannie and Jim Dodson Equine Protection Fund.  It is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse, while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and protection community. Find us online at www.homesforhorses.org and on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/#!/HomesforHorses

HBPA Past President Lloyd Romero Passes Away

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Obituary
Lloyd J. Romero

Lloyd J. Romero passed away Thursday April 16, 2015 at his residence in Erath

Mr. Romero a native and resident of Erath was a veteran of the US Marine Corp. he was a retired Louisiana State Trooper, an a successful horse trainer, he was the trainer of Rocket’s Magic of which the movie Casey’s Shadow was based upon, he was also recognized by the Louisiana State House of Representatives for his training of a filly named Hallowed Dreams she was named one of the best fillies in Louisiana. He was past President of the H.B.P.A.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years Joyce Sonnier Romero of Erath: five sons Gerald and his wife Mona Romero of Broussard, Edward Romero of Erath, Randy Romero of Lafayette, Kenneth Romero and his companion Lori Romero of Erath, John Romero of Lafayette and his former daughter in law Brandi Romero; one sister Sherry and her husband Glen LeBlanc of Houston Texas; eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Mr. Romero was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Evelyn Duhon Romero; and one sister Ozite and her husband Theodore Menard.Condolences may be sent to the Romero family at www.davidfuneralhome.org

Free Social Media Webinar for Equine Business Owners

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Event: Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals 2015
Date: April 27, 2015
Time: 5:30 pm Pacific � 7:30 pm Central � 8:30 pm Eastern
Place: Simulcast � attend via your phone or computer

Speakers: Elisabeth McMillan and Chad Mendell

 

Every year, Equestrian Professional hosts a free webinar entitled, �Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals.� This webinar gives time-stressed horse business owners a quick and effective way to get up-to-speed on the latest changes in the top social media platforms. Plus, attendees will gain insights into the best strategies for implementing successful social media marketing plans that work for horse industry businesses.

 

Attendees will:

 

  1. Learn what�s new across the top 7 social media platforms � you�ll get our at-a-glance charts so that you can quickly see what�s important for your unique business.

 

  1. Find out what�s important for horse businesses to pay attention to and what you can ignore � avoid wasting time on things that aren�t relevant to your business.

 

  1. See real-life examples of what�s working in the equestrian niche � it�s not the same as other mainstream businesses.

 

If you want to save time and get optimal results from social media, this is the webinar for you!

 

“Smart Social Media for Horse Professionals 2015”  is free to all horse professionals and horse industry business owners. It can be attended via your phone or computer. However, you must register to attend. This webinar will fill up quickly. Sign up today!

 

To learn more about this webinar go to http://www.EquestrianProfessional.com/public/1674.cfm 

 

About the Speakers
Elisabeth McMillan is the editor and founder of Equestrian Professional.com. She is a horse business and marketing consultant and an industry expert on Social Media. She has addressed the topic of social media marketing at equestrian association conventions such as UPHA, USEA, CHA, The Kentucky Horse Council, AHP (American Horse Publications) and more. EquestrianProfessional.com was also a top 10 finalist in the 2011 ESMA�s in the categories of “Best Use of Facebook” and “Most Informative.” She was selected to judge both the 2012 and 2014 ESMA�s (International Equestrian Social Media Awards)

Chad Mendell is the former executive editor of The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care and TheHorse.com where he developed an array of online educational products from videos, newsletters, and webinars. In 2010, he founded CowDog Media, an inbound marketing and web development company focused on helping businesses be more than just a point of purchase for their customers by helping them become an invaluable resource. He was selected to judge the both the 2012 and 2013 ESMA�s (Equestrian Social Media Awards). Additionally, Chad is the past vice president of the Kentucky Horse Council, and spoke at the 2012 AHP (American Horse Publications) convention. He also actively trains and shows reining horses.

About Equestrian Professional.com

Equestrian Professional.com is a membership site that provides horse business education, resources and support to horse professionals around the globe.  The site offers a wide array of programs, tools and information to help horse trainers, riding instructors, breeders, stable operators and professional riders run profitable businesses and build successful equestrian careers.

AAEP Announces Summer Continuing Education Opportunities for Equine Veterinarians

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Equine practitioners can invest in practical veterinary knowledge in diverse areas of equine medicine when the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) presents four continuing education meetings during summer 2015.

 

The slate of events includes a pair of 360� meetings, which combine lectures and wet labs into an intensive �boot camp� experience; and two Focus meetings, which present the latest evidence-based knowledge within a particular area of medicine.

 

  • 360� Diagnosing, Imaging and Treating from the Foot to the Fetlock: 

 

  • 360� Ophthalmology: July 8-11 at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. Sponsorship is provided by Akorn Animal Health and FujiFilm Sonosite.

 

  • Focus on Ambulatory Medicine & Focus on Students: July 26-28 in Minneapolis, Minn. The meeting is sponsored by Merial and Sound.

 

  • Focus on Poor Performance:  Sept. 10-12 in Lexington, Ky. Sponsors are Luitpold Animal Health, Progressive Nutrition and Vetel Diagnostics.

 

To view the complete program for each meeting or to register, visit www.aaep.org/info/education.

 

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.