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Month: December 2016

Industry Asks for H-2B Visa Program Support

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Urgent Efforts Continue To Reinstate H-2B VISA Returning Worker Exemption

Contact: Joe Bacigalupo, NTRA Federal Legislative Affairs, (859) 422-2677, joeb@NTRA.com

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Monday, December 5, 2016) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), through its involvement in the H-2B Workforce Coalition, has joined other organizations and businesses in pushing to have the H-2B visa returning worker exemption reinstated in a continuing resolution that is being drafted to fund the federal government through March 31, 2017.

H-2B visas are used by employers to fill temporary, non-agricultural positions that they are unable to fill with domestic workers. Horse trainers and other industry participants use the H-2B visa program to hire grooms and other stable help. The H-2B visa program has an annual cap of 66,000 visas. Qualified workers who complied with past visa requirements and worked in the program during one of the preceding three years will be excluded from the cap through the returning worker exemption.

The NTRA asks industry members to contact Congressional leadership immediately and express the horse industry’s concerns and the need to reinstate the H-2B visa returning worker exemption.

Starting today, Dec. 5, industry stakeholders are urged to contact Sen. Mitch McConnell at 202-224-2541 or through Sen. McConnell’s email contact form and Rep. Hal Rogers at 202-225-4601 or through Rep. Rogers’ email contact form (limited to constituents) in Washington, D.C.  Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the person who handles H-2B issues.  Tell them Congress must understand that a failure to reinstate the H-2B returning worker exemption before March of next year will hurt horse racing and agriculture industries and result in the loss of critical jobs. You may use this same language in the message section of the email contact form.

For those with Twitter accounts, tweet #saveH2B to @SenateMajLdr and @RepHalRogers with the following message:  “Include H-2B returning worker exemption in CR-critical horse racing and agriculture jobs are at stake!”  In separate tweets with the same message, you may also consider tagging other members of Congress and @HouseAppropsGOP.

Benefit to Help Richie Scherer

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A fundraiser to benefit Louisiana horseman Richard “Richie” Scherer will be held Sunday, December 18th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at New Orleans FairGrounds.

Scherer was born and raised in New Orleans. He comes from a long line of family in the racing industry and has spent his adult life training thoroughbred race horses. He was diagnosed with Papillary Kidney Cancer in May of 2013. His cancer has progressed to Stage IV and he is currently participating in a clinical trial. His treatments to date have included surgery, weekly doctor visits for immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

This benefit is to help Richie and his family with the increasing cost of his medical care and travel related expenses. Tickets are $50 and include Complimentary Food, Music, Silent and Live Auctions and 50/50 Raffle along with a cash bar. Attire is dressy casual. The benefit is being organized by Friends In Need Foundation.

For information on sponsorships, donations and to purchase tickets please contact Dottie Martin at 504.610.9079 or dottiemartin@hotmail.com. Tickets may also be purchased and/or donations made on-line at: http://finfoundation.org/2016/11/benefit-for-richie-scherer/.

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Six Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Champions Day

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – Louisiana Champions Day will take place on Saturday, December 10, at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will award a total of six scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event. The races begin at 12:30 p.m., with sign up for the drawings starting at 11:30 a.m. The students must sign up between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the designated registration booth to be entered into the drawing. The registration times were extended to ensure as many students are signed up for the drawing as possible.
 
The drawings will take place after the fifth, sixth, and seventh races, where two scholarships will be awarded after each race. To qualify for the drawing, the student must be enrolled full-time in the Spring 2017 semester, must be in good standing with the college or university, and must be present to win. The student is asked to know the address and name of the college so the scholarship can be directly deposited into their account. 
 
“The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association continues to make an investment in the future of our state by investing in our students and the education process,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “This type of investment is for our future, the state, as well as the organization. I hope that these scholarships get the younger generations invested in LTBA, so that our organization stays the top breeding incentive program in the United States.”
  
Louisiana Champion Day Schedule

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages the best incentive program for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The industry of racing and breeding generates over $2 billion and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana. 
 

For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call 1-800-772-1195.

Freshman Sire Tight Grip Two for Two

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tight-gripLouisiana Freshman sire Tight Grip has two winners from two starters in his first crop.

Tight Grip got his first winner July 28 at Evangeline Downs when Onefor Thegripper won at first asking by a length in a five-furlong maiden claimer. The final time was 1:01.65. His second starter, Good Gosh Gene also won a five-furlong maiden claimer at the Opelousas oval.

Tight Grip is a winning son of Distorted Humor—Roman Song (Sultry Song) who was bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols & Sons. Gary and Mary West bought the colt for $300,000 as a yearling and earned nearly $274,000 with him at the track.

Tight Grip stands at Caswick Farm in Sunset, Louisiana for $1,000

2017 Louisiana Horse Stallion Register and Hypomating Online

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The 2017 Louisiana Horse Stallion Register is now published on the LTBA website.  Statistical pages for forty nine advertised stallions are available. The Louisiana Horse Stallion Register consists mostly of stallion statistical pages. Statistics include a stallion’s race record, his record at stud, detailed pedigree statistics, dosage profile, stud fee and stallion location. All statistics are compiled by the Jockey Club. Many of the stallions include a photo page in addition to the statistical page. The printed edition of the book will be mailed next week. Copies of the printed edition will also be available at the LTBA office by December 9th.

Click here to see the 2017 Louisiana Horse Stallion Register Page.

The Hypomating page is up to date with the 2017 stallions as well.

Click here to go to the 2017 Louisiana Hypomating Page.

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