Month: June 2023

Tips for Horse Owners to Prepare for Hurricanes

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BATON ROUGE, LA—With hurricane season upon us, horse owners should take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their animals. Here are some tips from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART – lsart.org), the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (ldaf.state.la.us), and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (lsu.edu/vetmed) for effectively preparing horse owners in areas prone to hurricane damage:

 

Family Preparedness

 

Health and Identification

  • Ensure your horse’s vaccinations are up to date for tetanus and the encephalitis viruses (Rabies, Eastern, Western, and West Nile).
  • Establish a network and communication plan with the horse and farm animal-owning neighbors in your parish. Get to know one another, hold meetings to discuss various scenarios, and identify local resources for handling disaster situations. Be prepared to assist one another.
  • Familiarize yourself with your parish emergency managers, who are responsible during emergencies. Visit gohsep.la.gov/ABOUT/STATE-REGIONS for specific contact information.
  • Be sure that your horse has two forms of identification: (1) Permanent identification such as a microchip, tattoo or brand, and (2) Luggage-type tag secured to the tail and halter (be sure to use a leather halter for break-away purposes). Fetlock tags are useful and can be acquired on-line or from a local farm supply store or you can use a paint stick or non-toxic spray paint. Clearly legible tags should include your name, address, and phone number (preferably someone out of state in case of local phone outages).
  • Keep a record of the microchip number (E.I.A. or Coggins form) in an easily accessible location. It is advisable to keep a duplicate copy with a family member or friend in a distant location for safekeeping.

 

 

 

Evacuation Planning

  • Always plan to evacuate if possible. Identify a destination and pre-determine the routes well in advance. It is crucial to relocate your horses a sufficient distance from the coast, preferably north of Interstate 10 and ideally north of Alexandria. Aim to evacuate at least 72 hours before the anticipated storm arrival. Avoid the risk of being stuck in traffic with a trailer full of horses and a looming hurricane. Share your evacuation contact information with your neighbors.

 

Emergency Preparedness

  • Prepare a waterproof emergency animal care kit with all the items you normally use, including medications, salves or ointments, vetwrap, bandages, tape, etc. Store the kit in a safe place where you can easily access it following a storm.
  • Initiate early property cleanup to remove debris that could be tossed around by strong winds. Be careful of down power lines that can be “live” and pose a danger to people and animals.

 

Sheltering at Home

  • The choice of keeping your horse in a barn or an open field is up to you. Use common sense, taking into consideration barn structure, trees, power lines, condition of surrounding properties and the likelihood of the property and structure to flood. Farms subject to storm surge or flash flooding should turn their horses out so horses are not trapped and drown.
  • Remove all items from the barn aisle and walls and store them in a safe place.
  • Have at least a two-to-three-week supply of hay (wrapped in plastic or waterproof tarp) and feed (stored in plastic water-tight containers, securing the container seams with duct tape). Place these supplies out of reach of flood waters in the highest and driest area possible.
  • Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the tops, and place them in the barn for use after the storm.
  • Place an emergency barn kit containing a chain saw and fuel, hammer(s), saw, nails, screws and fencing materials in a secure area before the storm hits so that it is easily accessible following the storm.
  • Have an ample supply of flashlights and batteries and other non-perishable items.

 

Communications and Up to Date Information

  • Listen to local radio stations in your area. If Internet access is available, access state-run websites that contain accurate status information (i.e., State Police, State University, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry) and take all cautions/warning serious and act accordingly.
  • Visit the Louisiana State Animal Response Team website at lsart.org for more detailed information regarding horse hurricane preparations and other emergency and health-related information.

 

If your animals require emergency medical care after-hours, the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital on Skip Bertman Drive is available 24/7, 365 days a year. For pets and small exotics, call 225-578-9600, and for horses and farm animals, call 225-578-9500. While the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital typically remains open during hurricanes, please call first to be sure that the hospital is accessible, and we are able to accept patients following a disaster.

 

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.

 

International Sire El Corredor Dies at 26

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El Corredor carried out his stud career on three continents since 2002.

 

Grade 1 winner El Corredor , who carried out his stud career on three continents since 2002, reportedly died June 20 at Çelikoğlu Stud in Turkey, according to the Thoroughbred racing news outlet Yyaris Dergisi. The son of Mr. Greeley was 26.

El Corredor was the first foal out of the unraced Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan and bred in Kentucky by Needham-Betz Thoroughbreds and Liberation Farm. The mare was a half sister to two stakes winners and later produced grade 1 winner Roman Ruler , grade 3 winner Silver Tornado, and grade 1-placed winner Maimonides . El Corredor sold as a yearling for $110,000 at the 1998 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to trainer Bob Baffert, who bought the colt on behalf of owner Hal Earnhardt III.

The colt became a winner in his second start at 2 and at 3 won four of five starts, getting wins in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) and Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2). He would also run second to Fusaichi Pegasus in the Jerome Handicap (G2). At 4, he added two more graded stakes victories with a repeat win in the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup and a win in the Pat O’Brien Handicap (G2). He ended his racing career with an unplaced finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), in which he was hindered by a quarter crack.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

HISA: Furosemide Advisory Committee To Oversee Three-Year Study On Anti-Bleeding Medication

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by HISA Communications

 

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has announced the members of an Advisory Committee which has been convened to oversee a three-year study on the use of furosemide (also known as “Lasix”) on horses during the 48-hour period before the start of a Covered Horserace, including the effect on equine health and the integrity of competition.

The establishment of this Advisory Committee for the study of furosemide administration and the requirements of the study are specifically mandated and set forth in the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. The HISA Board of Directors delegated its authority to select the Advisory Committee members to HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Committee who did so based on the members’ relevant expertise. The Advisory Committee will oversee the process of issuing a Request for Proposal to conduct the research, reviewing grant applications from academic researchers and allocating grant funding for the study.

When the independent scientific research has been completed and published, it will be presented to the Advisory Committee who will then relay the findings and their recommendations to the HISA Board of Directors.

The Furosemide Advisory Committee is comprised of the following members:

Dr. Emma Adam, DVM, Ph.D., is a veterinarian with over 24 years of racing experience in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia. She is board-certified in equine medicine from Texas A&M University and in surgery from the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Adam also received her Ph.D. in musculoskeletal science from the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center.

Alan Foreman is Chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (THA) and Vice- Chairman of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). Foreman is considered one of the leading racing law and equine attorneys in the United States and is an expert on medications used in horse racing.

Dr. Scott Hay, DVM, is a veterinarian at Teigland, Franklin and Brokken, where he focuses on lameness, performance evaluations and purchase examinations. He also serves on the RMTC’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Hay previously served as President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and as a member of the Grayson-Jockey Club’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

Dr. Ted Hill, VMD, is a racing steward for the Jockey Club with more than 23 years of experience. He previously served as Chief Veterinarian for the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Dr. Hill received his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Rob Holland, DVM, Ph.D., is a respiratory and infectious disease specialist in Lexington, Kentucky and partner at Holland Management Services, Inc., a consulting practice offering solutions in outcomes research and veterinary medicine. Dr. Holland has worked with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and is an expert in equine drug testing processes.

Dr. Heather Knych, DVM, Ph.D., DACVCP, is a Professor of Clinical Veterinary Pharmacology and Head of the Pharmacology Section at the K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Pharmacology Laboratory at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Kynch is board-certified in Clinical Veterinary Pharmacology and has an extensive publication record in the areas of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. She received her DVM and Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of California, Davis, where she also conducted her residency in Veterinary Pharmacology.

Ryan Murphy is the Executive Director for the Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC), the leading anti-doping research organization dedicated to the protection of clean athletes. Prior to joining the PCC, Murphy served as Program Officer with the Sports Diplomacy division at the U.S. Department of State and prior to that as Senior Manager for Sport & Competition for Special Olympics International. Murphy has also worked as an International Doping Control Officer for International Doping Tests & Management. In addition to his work at the PCC, Murphy serves as an Adjunct Professor for the Sports Industry Management Master’s program at Georgetown University.

Dr. Foster Northrop, DVM, is a practicing racetrack veterinarian with more than 35 years of industry experience. He has served on the boards of the KHRC and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), as well as the RMTC’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

Dr. Scott Palmer, VMD, is a former President of the AAEP and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). He also chaired the New York Task Force for Racehorse Health and Safety from 2011 to 2013 and served as a clinician and referral surgeon at the New Jersey Equine Clinic for 38 years. He is currently a member of the RMTC’s Scientific Advisory Committee, the Horseracing Testing Laboratory Committee, the Association of Racing Commissioners International’s (ARCI) Drug Testing and Standards Committee and the ARCI’s Equine Welfare and Veterinarians Committee.

Dr. N. Edward Robinson, BVetMed, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized veterinarian, academic and researcher who spent nearly 50 years at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, during which he spent more than 20 years as the Matilda R. Wilson Professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. Dr. Robinson has spent his career researching lung disease in horses. He received his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London and a Ph.D. from University of California, Davis.

Dr. Corinne Sweeney, DVM (HIWU Appointment), is an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) specialist and has spent the past 44 years at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She has served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission since 2008 and previously served as Chair of the ARCI in 2019. She is a certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner and has served as the Penn Vet Ombuds since 2015.

About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.

The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.

The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations and prosecutes any such violations.

LOUISIANA DOWNS PHOTOGRAPHER ANN SWITALSKI ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A STANDOUT SHOT

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Bossier City, LA – At the end of the 2022 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred meet, esteemed photographer Lou Hodges, Jr. passed the baton to assistant Ann Switalski. He remains the official photographer at Fair Grounds but was looking to have some time off in the summer, after handling duties at Louisiana Downs since 2005.

Hodges hired Ann McKnight Switalski in 2016. An avid equestrienne, she began taking photos of morning works and benefited greatly from the expertise of Hodges.

“Lou made sure I understood that there is a very limited time to get the shots we need: the stretch, wire and comeback,” said Switalski.  “He taught me the importance of getting the horse in front to allow room for editing.”

The transition has been smooth as silk with Switalski completing the 2023 Quarter Horse season with total professionalism, aided by her assistant, Dawn Thomas.

Switalski is always looking for creative shots and when she is photographing a mile and 70 yard main track on the dirt, she will stroll to the gate as they load in hopes of capturing an interesting moment. On June 18, she had a most interesting opportunity.

“I took several shots as the horses left the gate and noticed some unusual movement,” explained Switalski. “After the race and back in my office, it was clear that all of the horses emerged from the gate except one. Upon further investigation I discovered a horse rearing higher and higher in each progressive shot until I almost couldn’t see his head.”

The horse was End Zone Athletics’ Aligned Interest, trained by Karl Broberg with jockey Juan Vargas guiding his mount from the awkward break to a sixth-place finish, without any issues.

“I believe my reaction when I reviewed the shot was “Holy Crap,” she added.

The management and of course, the horsemen who run at Louisiana Downs admire Switalski and hope their racehorses will pop up in their future spontaneous moments!

Rearing Gate Shot by LAD photographer Ann McKnight Switalski

2023 Breeders Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale to be Held September 28; Consignment Forms Available

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SALE DATE CHANGED!

BREEDERS SALES OF LOUISIANA
YEARLING SALE FOLLOWED BY MIXED SESSION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

 

In order to attract buyers between the Keeneland and Fasig Tipton Mid-Atlantic Yearling Sales, the LTBA Board of Directors has decided to move the date of the Breeders Sales of Louisiana 2023 Yearling Sale from Saturday, September 30th to Thursday, September 28th. A mixed session will follow the yearling sale. The decision to move the sale is based on the intent to attract more nationally prominent trainers and buyers who have traditionally skipped the Breeders Sale to go to Fasig Tipton. This will in turn help our consignors get the best prices for their stock.

Consignment forms for Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s 2023 Yearling Sale were mailed from the LTBA office last month. If you did not receive yours, you can call the office 504-947-4676, and we can mail you another or they may also be printed at home from the link below:

Consignment Contract

 

The Yearling Sale which will be followed by a Mixed Session under the banner of Breeders Sales of Louisiana, will be held on September 28th at the Equine Sales of Louisiana facility in Opelousas, La.

In the 2022 Sale, 138 yearlings were cataloged with 18 outs. 101 yearlings sold for a gross of $1,690,600 nearly doubling the 2021 gross of $898,000. The yearling average was $16,739 with a median of $10,000 another significant increase over 2021 average $13,027 and median $8,000.

Three weanlings sold for a gross of $20,000 and an average of $6,667. One horse of racing age sold for $7,000. Nine broodmares sold for a gross of $67,800 and an average of $7,530.

The gross for the overall sale was $1,785,400.

“Louisiana Breds have been very popular at the sales around the country. Now with the introduction of Sports Betting and the coming of Historical Horse Racing Machines, we anticipate that purses for Accredited Louisiana Breds will increase dramatically. We expect the value of, and demand for Louisiana Bred yearlings to increase substantially as well,” says LTBA Secretary/Treasurer Roger Heitzmann, III

The entry deadline is July 5th.  Entries are limited to 228 due to the number of stalls at the Equine Sales Facility, so it is recommended that consignors enter early.

Horse Racing Women’s Summit Aug. 3 Saratoga Meet Up Tickets Now Available

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The Horse Racing Women’s Summit (HRWS) community will Meet Up in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Thursday, Aug. 3. The gathering at Saratoga Race Course will feature New York horsewomen and provide attendees with an opportunity to network during morning training hours and at the races.

In addition to our Meet Up, the HRWS is partnering with the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation to host a gathering for the women of Saratoga’s backstretch community under the Marylou Whitney Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 8. The HRWS will proudly match individual, tax-deductible contributions towards this Saratoga backstretch event to $1,500.

Tickets to the Aug. 3 HRWS Meet Up at Saratoga are limited and are now available for purchase here. Donations to the backstretch women’s event can also be made via the EventBrite page.

HRWS Meet Up At Saratoga Event Details

On Aug. 3, attendees will gather on the track apron to watch training and network with various horsewomen, talk about their roles in the industry, and answer questions. A breakfast buffet on The Clubhouse Porch is available, but must be purchased separatelyfrom the HRWS ticket.

During the afternoon, attendees will reconvene at the racetrack for an afternoon of racing in the climate controlled Paddock Suite (“The Treehouse”), which features balcony views of the historic paddock. Special guests, including horsewomen and NYRA representatives, will be present throughout the afternoon and network with the group. More details will be available at www.womeninracingsummit.com as they are confirmed.

Founded in 2022, the Horse Racing Women’s Summit (HRWS) has grown into a movement gathering national attention. The inaugural multi-day summit at Santa Anita Park and subsequent events brought together people from all facets of the horse racing industry with the mission of connecting and empowering women in horse racing. We look forward to continuing to inspire Summit members to be trailblazers, build networks, meet new friends, foster deep discussions, and ultimately “engage, innovate and invest!”

Pike Racing To Relocate Operations To Highlander Training Center

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Two highly respected entities in Thoroughbred training and racing have announced they are joining forces: Pike Racing will be relocating its base of operation to Highlander Training Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas, effective July 1.

Owned by Al and Salley Pike, Pike Racing has become a fixture at the nation’s most prominent sales of 2-year-olds in training, and their graduates have experienced conspicuous success in the sales ring and at the racetrack. In 2016, they sold their first million-dollar 2-year-old, an Uncle Mo filly later named Modest Maven. She’s the dam of the stakes-winning Arctic Arrogance and the stakes-placed Overstep. In 2020, Pike Racing sold Shaaz for $1.1 million. At the most recent OBS March sale, the Pikes sold a Constitution colt for $625,000, and at the recent Texas auction of 2-year-olds, they had the sale-topper, a Tapwrit filly that brought $300,000.

Over the most recent four years, Pike Racing has sold more than $10.6 million in 2-year-olds, focusing on such auctions as OBS March, Fasig-Tipton Midlantic, and the Texas 2-year-old in-training sale.

Among Pike Racing’s graduates have been three Kentucky Derby (G1) starters — Vyjack, who won the Gotham (G2), Jerome (G3), and Kelso (G2) while earning $1.4 million in his career; Vicar’s In Trouble, who won the Louisiana Derby (G2( and Super Derby (G2) while earning more than $1.2 million; and Frammento, who earned more than $420,000. Mimi Kakushi, winner of the most recent UAE Oaks (G3), also received her earliest training with Pike Racing before selling for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale.

“I’m very excited about this,” Al Pike said, referring to the agreement to relocate his operation to the facilities at Highlander. A native Texan from Palestine, which is literally just down the road (Hwy. 19) from Highlander. Pike said he has been eager “to come back to Texas” for years. “Salley and I are both Texans, and it’s great to be able to come home. I think this is going to work perfectly, for both Highlander and for us.”

Just as Pike Racing has risen dramatically in prominence in recent years, so too has the Highlander Training Center. Established in 2017 by owner Larry Hirsch, Highlander offers state-of-the-art facilities and a top team of horsemen, including resident trainers Shannon Ritter and Jon Newbold. Ritter leads Highlander’s training of horses returning to the track after layoffs as well as HTC’s Fitness & Therapy Center. Newbold heads up the breaking-to-race division of young horses at Highlander.

Last year also saw Highlander bring a major consignment to the Texas Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park, having the highest sales average of any consignor, and selling the sales topper. This year Highlander will return to the Texas Yearling Sale (August 28) at Lone Star Park with a major consignment.

“We see having Al and Salley base their 2-year-old in-training operation at Highlander as an exceptional opportunity for everyone involved,” said Jeff Hooper, chairman and CEO of Highlander. “We have fielded numerous requests from clients to add preparing horses for 2-year-old in-training sales to our operations. There is a market demand for premium service in this sector, and the opportunity to align with Al and Salley for them to base their operations here at Highlander was a perfect fit.

“This truly makes Highlander a full-service operation for horse owners and trainers seeking the highest level of horsemanship and customer service,” Hooper continued.

“Shannon (Ritter) is respected by her fellow trainers nationwide for her horsemanship skills and attention to detail. She has been a professional jockey, worked with top horses as a trainer at the track, and headed up the Therapy Center at WinStar Farm prior to coming to HTC. Jon Newbold has over 30 years of experiencing with the breaking and pre-training of young horses preparing them for a successful career at the track. Now with our relationship with Pike Racing, we can offer clients similar premium service when they participate in the country’s top 2-year-old in-training sales,” said Hooper.

Describing Highlander as a first-class facility, Pike said, “We look forward to continuing our relationship with our existing clients, as well as getting to know new clients who would like to participate in the 2-year-old in-training sales with us. This represents a great opportunity for everyone.”

Highlander Training Center rests on 190 acres near Sulphur Springs, Texas, 80 miles east of Dallas. The facilities feature a newly remodeled five-furlong training track; a 1 3/8-mile turf gallop, a full fitness and therapy center, three state-of-the-art barns, 11 pastures and 16 paddocks and turn out pens.

2023 LTBA Election Calendar

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2023 LTBA Election Calendar

Dear LTBA Members,

The 2023 Board of Directors election will be coming up soon.A Director “must be a Member in good standing. Each board member elected shall serve for three years unless elected to fill a vacancy. The board membership terms are staggered which shall result in approximately 1/3 of the board being subject to election annually.”*

Following are dates of importance for anyone wishing to run for the LTBA Board of Directors or anyone who wishes to vote for the Board.

June 1, 2023 – Mail New Membership Form from LTBA
July 31, 2023 – Ending Date for Return of Membership for Election
August 15, 2023 – Nomination letter due with Resume and Picture
August 20, 2023 – Membership List supplied to the Board
August 25, 2023 – List of Members seeking election to be presented to the Board
September 11, 2023 – Information submitted to MK Election
October 2, 2023 – Mail Ballots and Resumes no later than this date
October 31, 2023 – Count Ballots

Membership must be completed by July 31st in order to vote for the Board or to be eligible to run for the Board.

If you wish to run for the board of directors, please understand the importance of these dates. This organization belongs to you and the future of this organization depends on all of our members participating.

* LTBA By-Law 12