Month: July 2021

Lone Star Park Concludes Season with Encouraging Handle

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The Texas track experienced their highest live and export handles since 2006.

 

Lone Star Park concluded its 25th Thoroughbred Racing season July 11 handling a daily average of $1,693,866 in merged handle (Live on-track plus Export) and a daily average of $1,459,096 specifically in export, over the 48-day meet, which was their most since 2006 in both categories, not including last year’s unique pandemic season.

Average daily grandstand attendance on weekends and holidays for the meet was just over 4,000 per day, which, when compared to similar days, was only a 4% decline from 2019.

 

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Four Time Leading Louisiana Stallion Half Ours Euthanized After Paddock Accident

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Four time Louisiana Leading Stallion, Half Ours, was euthanized Saturday, July 17, 2021 following a paddock accident at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana.

“It is a sad day for us all… Half Ours enriched our breeders program in Louisiana and beyond, having touched many who bred and raced,”  said Val Murrell of Clear Creek Stud. “He was obviously an integral part of Clear Creek Stud’s very existence, like a family member that you saw every day.  His loss will be felt by many and his influence will remain for years to come, defined by progeny that always showed up, held together, running on both dirt or grass.”

The grey son of Unbridled’s Song led the Louisiana Sire list from 2014-2017 and is currently leading the state in 2021. Bred by Brilliant Stables, Half Ours won the Three Chimney’s Juvenile Stakes at Keeneland in his second start and added the Grade II Richter Scale Sprint Championship Handicap at Gulfstream Park as a Four Year Old. Half Ours was initially raced by Aaron and Marie Jones in partnership with B.K. Schwartz and later by the Jones’s. Half Ours is the sire of thirty-eight stakes horses of which twenty-one were stakes winners of forty-one stakes races for lifetime earnings of in excess of Twenty Million Dollars. He initially stood at stud at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky before moving to Clear Creek Stud for the 2011 breeding season.

Louisiana Horse Industry Under Attack from Unconditional & Unfunded Congressional Mandate, Attorney General Jeff Landry Fights Back

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Louisiana Joins Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court to Protect State from Overreaching, Unaccountable Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority

BATON ROUGE, LA – Fighting to protect state sovereignty, Attorney General Jeff Landry has joined Louisiana to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act of 2021 (HISA) – a measure ramrodded into the COVID relief bill that cedes much regulatory and taxation power of the State to an unaccountable nongovernmental entity.

“HISA requires the unelected Authority to exercise regulatory authority over horseracing in Louisiana, mandates our State to assist the Authority, and forces us to choose between remitting funds to the Authority or losing some of our powers of taxation,” explained Attorney General Landry. “This violation of the Tenth Amendment would have devastating effects to our State and the thousands of Louisianans in the horse industry.”

“While I believe that horses should be treated humanely and horseracing should be held to the highest degree of integrity, I know that more bureaucracy from an overreaching and unaccountable fiefdom is not the way to achieve these goals,” continued Attorney General Landry. “We should continue our Legislature’s decades-long delegation of police powers over the industry to the Louisiana State Racing Commission, knowledgeable participants who have collected significant fees and taxes while enforcing our statutes and regulations concerning the health and safety of equine athletes and all other industry participants throughout Louisiana.”

Attorney General Landry’s litigation was met with swift praise and appreciation from those who ply their trade – directly and indirectly – in owning, breeding, training, grooming, racing, and caring for horses in Louisiana.

“The actions of Attorney General Jeff Landry in opposing the HISA law demonstrates his genuine concern for the well-being of the Louisiana horse racing and breeding industry and its participants throughout the State as well as our equine athletes,” said Benard Chatters, the President of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (LAHBPA).

“The Louisiana Horsemen appreciate and respect the unwavering support of Attorney General Jeff Landry, which he has consistently shown to the Louisiana horse racing and breeding industry throughout our State,” said Ed Fenasci, the Executive Director of the LAHBPA.

LTBA Announces 2020 Champions; Names No Parole 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year

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LTBA Announces 2020 Champions; Names No Parole 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year

 

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association is pleased to announce the selection of Grade 1 Woody Stephens S. winner, No Parole as 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year.

 

After breaking his maiden in his only start as a juvenile in 2019, No Parole (Violence-Plus One) won a Fair Grounds Allowance race by 13 1/4 lengths in his first start at 3, followed by a 6 1/2 length victory in the Louisiana Premier Night Prince at Delta Downs.  In June, he won the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont defeating Echo Town in the process. He had four wins from seven 2020 starts. His year end earnings of $270,866 were the highest of any Louisiana Bred runner last year.

 

Along with overall Louisiana Horse of the Year, the following have been named 2020 Louisiana Champions:

 

2020 Two-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly

BIG TIME

Astrology-Kitty’s Got Class

Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson

Owner: Valene Farms

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

 

2020 Two-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Colt or Gelding

JIMMY TWO TIMES

Half Ours-Sammy Van Ammy

Breeder: Larry Romero & Cradle Song Farm

Owner: Andrus J. Pellerin

Trainer: Keith G. Bourgeois

 

2020 Three-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly

OUR LOST LOVE
Half Ours-Lost Love Baby

Breeder: Tri-Star Racing, LLC

Owner: Tri-Star Racing, LLC

Trainer: Joseph M. Foster

 

2020 Three-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Colt or Gelding

NO PAROLE

Violence-Plus One

Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms.

Owner: Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin

Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss

 

2020 Four-Year-Old and up Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly or Mare

MARIAH’S GALAXY 

Greeley’s Galaxy-Black Mariah

Breeder: Margie K. Averett

Owner: Riley Blanchet and Todd Matte

Trainer: Victor Arceneaux

 

2020 Four-Year-Old and up Accredited Louisiana Bred Male

MONTE MAN  

Custom For Carlos- Sarah’s My Angel

Breeder: Val C. Murrell

Owner: Ivery Sisters Racing

Trainer: Ron Faucheux

 

2020 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year

SITTIN AT THE BAR

Into Mischief-Fast Liner

Owner:  Brett Brinkman and P. Dale Ladner

 

2020 Andrew L. “Red” Erwin Stallion of the Year

STAR GUITAR

Quiet American-Minit Towinit by Malagra

Owner: Brittlyn Stable Inc

 

2020 Louisiana Leading Breeder by Breeders Awards

BRITTLYN STABLE INC.

 

2020 Louisiana Leading Breeder by Percentage of Stakes Winners

ADCOCK’S RED RIVER FARM & MONTGOMERY EQUINE PARTNERSHIP

 

Champion Accredited Louisiana Bred runners as well as Broodmare of the Year were selected by LTBA memberships votes. Louisiana Horse of the Year is selected by the LTBA Board of Directors. Statistics were used to determine all remaining category winners.

H-2B Visa Program Faces Severe Threat from Department of Labor Appropriations Bill

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 14, 2021) ― The U.S. House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the fiscal year 2022 Department of Labor Appropriations bill on Thursday, July 15, and language within the bill could devastate the H-2B visa program. The NTRA urges industry members to contact their Representative immediately and ask for this language to be removed from the bill.

The language of concern appears on pages 46-50 of the bill and would make the H-2B visa program difficult for many employers to use. Specifically, the draft bill would:

• Prohibit industries from using the H-2B program if they experienced unemployment in any of the previous 12 months over 10 percent;
• Prohibit construction industries from using the program even in seasonal locations or occupations;
• Increase the baseline for wages to at least 150% of the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher;
• Require wage compliance with a collaborative bargaining agreement for your industry in your area, even if you are not a party to the agreement;
• Ban participation in the program for labor/workforce related infractions outside of the scope of the H-2B program.

“This appropriations bill contains alarming language for any business or industry that relies on the H-2B visa program to operate,” said NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We ask trainers and others in horse racing to contact their Representative today to help get this language removed.”

As suggested by the H-2B Workforce Coalition, of which the NTRA is a member, industry members should:

• Call your Representative today and ask him or her to urge the House Appropriations Committee leadership and their Party Leadership to remove Sections 116, 117 and 118 of Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations Bill before the legislation is considered by the Appropriations Committee on Thursday. You can reach your Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once connected to the office, please ask to speak to the staff person who handles Department of Labor appropriations.
• Send an email to your Representative using this link

The H-2B visa guest worker program is a nonimmigrant visa program used by many industries that need temporary non-agricultural help when domestic workers are unavailable. For the horse racing industry, trainers rely heavily on the H-2B program to fill various backside positions.

2021 Accreditation Forms- NEW INFORMATION REQUIRED

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2021 Louisiana Accreditation Forms will be mailed soon, and are available online now. Please be sure to complete all segments as there is new information which is required.

Click here to download and print form

LOUISIANA DOWNS ANNOUNCES THAT LOUISIANA CUP DAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

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Six Black-Type Stakes Offered for Louisiana-Breds

 

Bossier City, LA – Quality Louisiana-bred horses will take center stage on Saturday, August 21 when Louisiana Downs presents Louisiana Cup Day.  Post time will be 2:45 pm (CT) for the annual event that will include main track and turf stakes.

 

Louisiana Cup Day continues to be an excellent afternoon of racing for breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys with an esteemed list of past winners receiving recognition from the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) when they announce their annual champions. Ivery Sisters’s Racing’s Monte Man, Tri-Star Racing’s Our Lost Love, Rodney Verret’s Laughingsaintssong, Barrone Farms LLC’s Is Too and Tin Roof Farms LLC’s Snowball are just a few of the Louisiana Cup Day stakes winners who have been honored by the LTBA.

 

“Louisiana Cup Day is a great day for the breeders in our state and fans at Louisiana Downs to see some of the top Thoroughbreds in Louisiana,” said David Heitzmann, Director of  Racing. “The day would not be possible without the support of Ed Fenasci, Executive Director of the HBPA and Roger Heitzmann, Executive Director of the LTBA. We look forward to presenting an excellent card on August 21.”

 

The six Louisiana Cup Day Stakes are as follows:

                                   

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile                    2 YO LA-Bred                        Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies          2 YO Fillies LA-Bred             Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint  3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred  Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint                        3 YO & Up LA-Bred              Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic              3 YO & Up LA-Bred              1 1/16 miles (T)

$50,000 Louisiana Distaff                              3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred  1 1/16 miles (T)

 

Nominations for Louisiana Cup Day will close on Saturday, August 7. Contact David Heitzmann at dheitzmann@caesars.com or by calling (318) 741-2511.

 

Scholarship Drawings Offered on Louisiana Cup Day

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000 on Louisiana Cup Day.

 

The drawings will take place between the fourth and fifth races. Students must register in person between 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.at the designated registration booth.

The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

 

Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Fall 2021.

Must be in good standing with the college or university.

Must be present at the drawing location to win.

Must have university ID number or Social Security number.

The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.

Handicapping Preview Show Set for Saturday, August 21

Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a pre-race handicapping preview at 1:30 pm in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. They will offer analysis and their selections for each of the races on the Louisiana Cup Day card. The seminar is free and open to all racing fans.

 

About Harrah’s Louisiana Downs

Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.

 

OAKLAWN ANNOUNCES MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN ITS RACING CALENDAR

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HOT SPRINGS, AR (June 7, 2021) – In yet another historic move for the 117-year-old track, Oaklawn will now add December race dates to its calendar and host a 66-day season from Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 – Sunday, May 8, 2022.

“For many years, horsemen have wanted to race here in December to fill a gap in their racing schedule,” said Oaklawn President Louis A. Cella, who has guided Oaklawn through the most dramatic changes in its history over the past four years. “We have completed our resort expansion, including the opening of our luxury hotel, spa and event center. Therefore, the timing is right for another expansion – to our live racing season.”

The 66-day season will be conducted largely on a Friday-Sunday basis, with some exceptions. There will be no racing Dec. 24 through Dec. 26 during the Christmas holiday and also no racing on Easter Sunday, April 17. Racing will continue to be offered on Presidents’ Day Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

Oaklawn plans to present the new proposed racing schedule to the Arkansas Racing Commission at their next meeting for approval.

“We are looking forward to the new format,” Cella said. “The additional days will provide a huge economic impact for horsemen, Arkansas Thoroughbred breeders and tourism in Central Arkansas.”

“Oaklawn’s decision to add racing days in December is wonderful news for Hot Springs and Garland County,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. The expansion of its casino and its addition of a world-class hotel this year already provided Hot Springs with an exciting new feature in its attractions menu. The additional live racing dates will further cement Oaklawn’s status as a premier economic engine for our city. We all look forward to this great new reason for everyone to visit Hot Springs.”

Purses for the season are projected to be $45 million – $50 million; the highest in America at that time of year, with all allowance races starting at $100,000.

“To be able to offer six-figure allowance races for five consecutive months is a very strong statement,” Oaklawn Racing Secretary Pat Pope said. “Between the purses and all of our new amenities, we should be part of every horseman’s annual calendar.”

The extended season and projected purse increases make it necessary for Oaklawn to restructure its stakes program, highlighted, by realigning Oaklawn’s strong 3-year-old prep races.

“We will offer 2­-year-old racing in December,” Cella said, “and we anticipate additional exciting changes in our racing program, including an aggressive 2021-2022 stakes schedule. We are working on that now and will announce those changes soon. Suffice it to say that our stakes program will continue to be designed to attract the nation’s best horses and best horsemen to Hot Springs.”

Trainers are also excited about the additional race dates.

“I love it,” Hall of Famer and 11-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen said. “The more Oaklawn, the better.”

“I’ve been an advocate for this for years,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “I think it’s a great addition and will keep our stables competitive. It’s also going to be a popular time. People are already in a festive mood around the holidays and the weather in December is usually pretty good. I think there is going to be a strong fan base. I’m 100% for it.”

“Oaklawn’s new dates allow us horsemen to participate in the most lucrative purse circuit in America without any interruptions,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “It’s now a smooth transition between Oaklawn, Churchill, and Saratoga.”

Located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, Oaklawn has been one of the premiere Thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, best known as home of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. The casino features slots, live table games, and sports betting year-round. Live racing held Dec-May and simulcast racing throughout the year. Now open: a 198-room luxury hotel, multi-purpose event center, state-of-the-art spa, and new dining options. Oaklawn.com, 1-800-OAKLAWN.

NET A BEAR RIDES RAIL TO VICTORY IN $60,000 NET OPELOUSAS STAKES

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JOCKEY TIM THORNTON GUIDES GROUND SAVING TRIP WITH ALLEN LANDRY CHARGE

 

Net A Bear captures the 2021 Opelousas Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Coady Photography.

 OPELOUSAS, LA –A July 4th weekend crowd was treated to an exciting finish in the $60,000 Opelousas Stakes Friday night, as Net a Bear picked up the victory under jockey Tim Thornton.  The Allen Landry runner turned the tables on a couple of rivals in the turf stakes for older fillies and mares.

 

Champagne Affair took the early initiative after breaking sharply from her inside post position, tracked intently by Raging Gold Digger and a three-wide Snowball.  The compact field of five traveled in close attendance with Net a Bear and Offspring just behind the trio through moderate fractions of an opening half-mile split of 49.08 seconds.  The field remained closely bunched as they moved to the top of the lane, with six furlongs traveled in 1:13.42, as Champagne Affair held onto a slim lead, while Raging Gold Digger and Snowball both began to tire.

 

Net a Bear waited patiently under a ground-saving trip, while Offspring was moved to the middle of the track for her run.  Finding a seam between Champagne Affair and the rail, Net a Bear accelerated quickly to burst through and charge to victory, pulling away late to win by 1-3/4 lengths.  Offspring was able to nab Champagne Affair late for the runner-up position, by a ½-length.  Net a Bear, who runs for the partnership of Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro, finished in a time of 1:37.51 completed over a firm course, at the distance of about one-mile.

 

The winner’s share of $36,000 increased the lifetime bankroll of Net a Bear to $322,070.  The victory is the sixth win of her 25-race career.

 

The 5-year-old mare was bred in Louisiana by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll.  The bay mare is by Awesome Bet, out of the Eddington mare Edacious Reality.

 

Sent off as the second wagering choice at 8-5, Net a Bear returned $5.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show.  Offspring, favored at 6-5, paid $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show.  Champagne Affair returned $4.20 to show.

 

 

Groups Launch Trainer Continuing Education Platform

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The website for the platform is HorsemenU.com.

 

The California Thoroughbred Trainers, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association have teamed up to provide a continuing education platform for Thoroughbred trainers and assistant trainers.

Horsemen U offers approved online CE webinars and issues CE certificates after a course and a short quiz have been completed. Trainers and assistant trainers can register, free of charge, and maintain their CE records in their accounts. The website for the platform is www.HorsemenU.com.

Continuing education has been adopted as one of the core best practices developed by the stakeholders involved in the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. CE requirements have been implemented in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia. Pennsylvania and Virginia are in the process of adopting CE regulations.

 

 

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