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Month: December 2022

Obituary: Yvette Barbazon

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Yvette Barbazon passed away, Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at the age of 74. A well respected horsewoman, Barbazon had been the long time farm manager at Clear Creek Stud for many years before retiring several years ago.

A funeral service will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 at St. John’s Church, 11345 St. John Church Road, Folsom, LA.

Family Viewing from 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Visitation from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Mass at 11:00 a.m. followed by burial at Bogue Falaya Cemetery
Following the burial, a reception will be held back at St. John’s Hall.

In lieu of flowers, a monetary donation to help offset funeral expenses can be made directly to:
Bridget Barbazon.
14263 C Gotti Rd
Folsom, LA 70437
985-264-3038

Anyone wishing to bring a dish for the reception, may bring it to the Hall at the church starting at 9:00.

January Calendar of Events from the LTBA

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

Brought to you by Whispering Oaks Farm,  and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Click images to link to more information

Dec 23-26

  • Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Office Closed for Christmas Holidays

Dec 31
YEAR END REMINDER:

  • Louisiana Stallion Registrations Due
  • Louisiana Futurity Nominations Due (pregnant mares)
  • FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2022 Louisiana Bred foal at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2023, 2022 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.
  • Louisiana Futurity, Divisions for Fillies and for Colts and Geldings, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Pago Hop S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Woodchopper S., New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 1

  • New Years Day

Jan 6

  • Orleans S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA

Jan 7

  • Sam’s Town S., Delta Downs, Vinton, LA
  • Bob F. Wright Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Gary P. Palmisano Memorial  S., New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Louisiana Champions Day Turf, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 14

  • Nelson J. Menard Memorial S., New Orleans Fair Grounds

Jan 16

  • Martin Luther King Day

Jan 21

  • Road to the Derby Day, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • G3 Lecompte S, Silverbulletday S., Duncan F. Kenner S., G3 Louisiana S., Col. E. R. Bradley H., Marie G. Krantz Mem. S.

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter? Reach @ 2,500 readers.Please contact Linda 985-386-0360, linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676, 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 or Roger 504-947-4676, 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

Merry Christmas from the LTBA

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Dear Breeders,

 

In this busy holiday season, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association would like to remind you of a few tasks to be completed before the end of the year.

 

Louisiana Stallion Registrations and Louisiana Futurity Nominations (for pregnant mares) are due by December 31, 2022.

Additionally December 31, 2022 is the FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2022 Louisiana Bred foals at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2023, 2022 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.

 

The LTBA offices will be closed Friday, December 23rd through Monday, December 26th for the Christmas holidays.

 

With warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Grassley, Manchin Fight HISA Amendment

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Grassley, Manchin want to remove a HISA-related amendment from spending legislation.

U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Joe Manchin of West Virginia have jointly filed an amendment that would strip changes to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act from an omnibus spending bill being considered this week in Congress.

The single sentence added to the spending bill is intended to place the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on sounder legal footing by clarifying the Federal Trade Commission’s oversight. This change is a reaction to a U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling last month that determined HISA’s enabling legislation was unconstitutional on the grounds that it inappropriately gives federal power to a private organization.

Nine state attorneys general also reportedly sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky asking for the HISA language change not to be included in the spending bill, according to a Dec. 21 press release from the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. The initial HISA legislation was adopted as part of the 2020 COVID-19 relief bill.

Grassley filed his amendment Dec. 19, and Manchin signed on as a sponsor.

Read BloodHorse Article

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Call and Email your Senators right away to vote “Yes” for the Grassley Amendment

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Within the last few hours, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the attached Amendment to strip references to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) from the 4,000-page omnibus spending bill being considered this week in Congress. In response, we are releasing the following call to action: National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association CEO Eric Hamelback released the following statement.

 

“I want to praise Senator Grassley for his bold move to protect horsemen in Iowa and throughout the U.S. An amendment to HISA should not have been written in the dark of night and has no place in the 4,000+-page spending bill. You cannot fix a constitutionally flawed law with one sentence. The Grassley Amendment will ensure that real, working horsemen are listened to on how to fix the law that regulates their industry. The Grassley Amendment is picking up steam, and I urge all horsemen to call and email their Senators right away to vote “Yes” for the Grassley amendment.”

 

We need everyone to post and share this information as soon as possible.  We are working with the Kentucky HBPA to send a call-to-action email as well.

 

Please help spread this very important message as soon as possible and then contact your Senators to relay you want them to vote yes on the Grassley amendment.

 

Eric J. Hamelback

CEO, The National HBPA

3380 Paris Pike

KY Training Center

Lexington, KY 40511

859-707-1452 Cell

859-259-0451 Office

 

H. R. 2617: To amend section 1115 of title 31

 

Contact information for the U.S. Senators from Louisiana is:

Senator John Kennedy
https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/
416 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Office number 202-224-4623

Senator Bill Cassidy
https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/
520 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Office number 202-224-5824

JACOB MORREALE OBITUARY

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Jacob Vincent Morreale, age 90 peacefully went to heaven on 12/13/2022. He was born to Vincent A. Morreale and Angelina C. Morreale on 2/17/1932 in Bay St. Louis, MS. He graduated from St. Stslaus and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Physical education from Southeastern Louisiana University. While attending SLU He was chosen as the baseball team captain and named to the All-Conference team. Following SLU he coached baseball (and all sports) at Morgan City High School before joining the Army during the Korean War where he pursued his love of boxing. Jacob continued his professional boxing career which culminated him being the AAU Golden Glove Champion in 1966. He then became a Thoroughbred horse trainer where he won his first race in 1971. His passion and love of this sport drove him to be successful enough to get to the Kentucky Derby in 1978 with his “big grey” Chief of Dixieland. His amazing career with so many long shots led him to his racetrack nicknames, “Jake the snake and Jake the rake” up until he retired at 83 in 2013. ” My ” job” never felt like I worked a day in my life” he often said. Jacob is preceded in death his parents, Vincent and Angelina Morreale, his sister Patricia Morreale Garriga and his former wife Lydia Marcelle Morreale. Jacob is survived by his loving daughter, Monette Marcelle Morreale, his adoring grandson Jace Jacob Khashou, his brother Martin Morreale and his brother-in-law Jerry Garriga (Patricia). His nieces and nephews Vincent Garriga, Gerald Garriga, James Garriga( Denise), Tony Garriga (Elesha), Jay Jay Garriga (Kristie), Matthew Garriga(Melissa), Bridgette Harbin(Kirk), Marty Ann Flecher (Joe) Vinny Morreale; so many family and friends loved him dearly. JV was a devout Catholic and a well-respected hard-working man whose smile was infectious, laugh was contagious, and baby blue eyes were penetrating. A true legend at heart. Rest easy “CHAMP” Visitation will be at Jacob and Schoen Funeral home on Thursday, December 22, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 p.m. The burial will be at St. Mary’s cemetery at the Italian Tomb/ Society in Bay St. Louis.

FDA Cautions Horse Owners Not to Feed Recalled Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes due to Reports of Illness and Death

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LSU Vet Med is working with the FDA and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture

BATON ROUGE—On December 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about recalled lots of alfalfa cubes that appear to have caused illness and death in horses; at this time, the FDA reports that horses in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado have shown neurological signs that may be related to this issue. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is working with the FDA and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) to investigate this issue and treat some of the affected horses.

At this time, the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (LADDL) at LSU Vet Med has conducted necropsies on 12 horses. Testing of some of the alfalfa cubes and tissues from those horses is being conducted by the diagnostic lab at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

LSU Vet Med cannot comment on its patients due to patient privacy laws, but Rose Baker, BVMS, DACVIM, assistant professor of equine medicine, is treating some horses with neurological signs believed to be related to this issue. If information becomes available that affects horse health, LSU Vet Med will work with the FDA and LDAF on advisories for the public. Dr. Baker is working with both of these agencies to investigate the cause and protect horses.

If you believe that your horse has been affected, please contact your veterinarian immediately or the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 225-578-9500.

For more information on what to do as a horse owner or how to report a horse illness, visit https://www.ldaf.state.la.us/news/fda-cautions-horse-owners-not-to-feed-recalled-lots-of-top-of-the-rockies-alfalfa-cubes-due-to-reports-of-illness-and-death/.

Read the FDA Advisory

Here are a few facts issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today (link to complete advisory above):

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cautioning horse owners not to feed Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with the date codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522, and 111622.
  • These alfalfa cubes have been recalled by Manzanola Feeds of Manzanola, CO, which distributes products directly to feed stores and co-ops in 10 states. Further distribution is possible, so it’s important to check the date codes if you have these products.
  • Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes are sold in white and tan plastic 50-pound bags with green labeling. The date codes are on the front of the package.
  • If you have Top of the Rockies alfalfa cubes with these date codes, or you can’t be sure of the date code of the products you have, throw them away in a secure container and follow the handling and cleaning instructions below.
  • FDA is aware of at least 98 horses in Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas who showed neurologic symptoms. At least 45 of these horses have died or were euthanized due to declining health.
  • The symptoms reported are consistent with botulism, and while further testing is underway to pinpoint the cause of the horse illnesses, horse owners and handlers should take precautions to protect human and animal health.
  • Immediately consult a veterinarian if your horse ate this product and shows signs of neurologic illness, such as muscle tremors, difficulty eating or swallowing, difficulty standing, or collapse.

About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.

Anti-HISA Ruling Could Be Delayed for Months

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Fifth Circuit refuses to order accelerated issuance of mandate.

 

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which in November ruled the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act is unconstitutional, turned down a Dec. 15 request by the states and racing commissions of Louisiana and West Virginia to give the decision effect on Dec. 19. The upshot is enforcement of a lower court injunction against HISA could be delayed for months.

The two-line order denying the request was entered Dec. 16 by the same three Fifth Circuit judges who reversed a Texas federal district court ruling in favor of HISA. The lower court injunction against HISA was entered by a federal district court in Louisiana, which is also in the Fifth Circuit.

The Fifth Circuit’s anti-HISA decision cannot take effect unless and until a mandate issues. A publication of the American Bar Association says, “At its most basic, the mandate is the device by which an appellate court closes an appeal.”

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Bron and Brow Impresses in his Return

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Fair Grounds Welcomes “The Real Players Inside the Backstretch”

 

New Orleans, La (December 17, 2022) – One of the most anticipated Louisiana-bred juveniles to emerge at the beginning of the 2021-2022 meet, Gary Barber’s Bron and Brow impressed his fans as much as he left them scratching their heads. The Mark Casse trainee would win going away one race and then lose by multiple lengths the next. The talent was never in doubt and the public kept going back to the well. He was bet to favoritism in four straight races at Fair Grounds, but getting his mind in the race and finding the right distance took some dialing in.

On Thursday, Dec 15, the sophomore son of Gormley returned from a 6-month layoff and put his talent on full display, earning a career-best 94 Brisnet Speed figurein a second-level allowance for statebreds. With Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, Bron and Brow beat a stout field to the front and put more distance between them at each call to win by 3 lengths in the end.

“He came back from the farm doing fantastic,” assistant trainer on the grounds David Carroll said. “We gelded him and he filled out nicely coming into this. Brian (jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.) put him into the race early and (Bron and Brow) ran his race.”

After debuting at Del Mar and finishing third, Bron and Brow entered the 2021 $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile. He had a troubled trip, lost by a 1/2 length, and after the race, his connections weren’t shy about their belief that he wouldn’t be a maiden much longer. Three weeks later he won the 2021 $100,000 Louisiana Futurity, pulling off the always impressive maiden win against stakes company.

“After winning the Futurity, we tried two turns with him, but that didn’t suit him,” Carroll said. “Last year he wasn’t finishing his races for whatever reason, but he ran well up at Woodbine over the summer. We’ll look to keep him going short. He came out of Thursday’s race looking super, and we’re looking at the Palmisano Stakes for him.”

The 1st running of the $75,000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial Stakes is for Louisiana-breds going 6 furlongs and will be run on Jan 7.

 

Fair Grounds Welcomes The Real Players Inside the Backstretch

With video camera and microphone in hand, Rasi Harper and Maurice Davis, the team behind The Real Players Inside the Backstretch, spent four days traveling virtually every inch of Fair Grounds – backside and front. Their mission is to celebrate the “real players” of horse racing – grooms, hot walkers, trainers, exercise riders, etcetera – and to capture the oral history of the sport from the people who have dedicated their lives to it. Louisiana Champions Day served as the perfect occasion and backdrop, as so many horsemen from across the Pelican state descended upon New Orleans.

With a channel on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, the content they have created has gained widespread popularity across the sport. Hailing from Saratoga Springs, Ny, the duo began their project at their home track, but they have since visited the other NYRA tracks, Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, and others.

“I chose to come here instead of the Breeders’ Cup,” Rasi Harper said. “Fair Grounds has got it. The horsemen here, the old-timers, everybody here is speaking to me about what this sport is all about.”

It began with a post on Twitter asking “Who should we visit at Fair Grounds?” Relying on clandestine run-ins and following these leads from social media, they found the legendary horsemen “Dead Eye” and John Bruno, revered trainer Neil Howard, groom Big B, soft-spoken Louisiana legends Pat Mouton andLeslie Balthazar, and many others who have dedicated their lives to racing and to Fair Grounds, whether anyone knows it or not.

“It’s all about turning the camera on others, it’s not about me,” Harper said. “The people I speak to possess a deep knowledge and we’re all about listening to what they have to say.”

The Real Players Inside the Backstretch interviews captured at Fair Grounds and elsewhere can be found on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Fair Grounds Return to Stall-Wilson Turf Course Set for Dec. 26

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Hidden Connection, Zozos Racing at Fair Grounds this Week

 

New Orleans, La (December 15, 2022) – Turf racing will return to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day ” card, to be held on Monday, Dec. 26. With the portable rail set at 34 feet, fields will be limited to eight runners for the $100,000 Blushing KD and the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial. With the same parameters, turf racing will again be conducted on Dec. 31 with the runnings of the $100,000 Pago Hop and the $100,000 Woodchopper.

“Going forward from there, we will monitor the condition of the course and run a limited number of turf races as the course allows,” said executive director of racing Gary Palmisano, Jr. “If all goes well, as is expected, the racing office will look to add turf races to the new condition book, which starts Jan. 5.”

Hidden Connection, Zozos Racing at Fair Grounds this Week

Hoping to build on their resumes as 4-year-olds, the runner-ups from this past season’s Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) both return to action in the coming days at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Away from the races since finishing tenth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Barry and Joni Butzow’s Zozos returns to action in Saturday’s eight race. The Brad Cox trainee will be tasked with going 1 1/16 miles in a second-level allowance against an oversubscribed field of 13.

“He’s been doing great training up to this,” assistant trainer Ricky Giannini said. “The field came up salty. Going one mile and 1/16 for his first start after seven or so months off will be a test.”

Posting six morning workouts coming into this, Zozos was fastest of 23 others going 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 on Nov 23 at Churchill Downs. He breezed 4 furlongs around the local track on Dec 10.

The 3-year-old earned 40 points, more than enough to qualify for the “Run for the Roses”, by finishing second to eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter, who is a serious candidate for 3-year-old champion honors, in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Setting the pace that day, the son of Munnings has shown forward speed.  After riding the Cox-barn 2-year-old Tapit Shoes to victory earlier this meet, Corey Lanerie gets the call to ride Zozos from post No. 2.

The oversubscribed field of 13 is scheduled to enter the gates at 4:45 p.m. CT. First post for the 9-race card is 1:15 p.m. CT.

Oaks-star Hidden Connection Races Friday

After finishing a disappointing third going 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs this Nov in her first race since finishing 12th in the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbred’s Hidden Connection will stretch back out to 1 1/16 miles on Friday at Fair Grounds. The star filly from Bret Calhoun’s barn almost nailed Echo Zulu at this distance in last year’s Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

“There’s a speedster drawn to her outside,” her regular jockey Rey Gutierrez said. “We just need to be in a good position going into the first turn. Bret (Calhoun) has done great work getting her ready for this.”

Hidden Connection’s claim to fame is a resounding win as a 2-year-old in the Pocohontas (G2) at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Connect is winless from five starts since.

Scheduled as Race 7, post time for the second-level allowance is 4:15 p.m. CT. First post on the 8-race card is 1:15 p.m. CT.

 

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