Texas Thoroughbred breeders and horsemen are preparing to stage one of the largest Texas yearling sales ever. The annual Texas Thoroughbred Association Summer Yearling Sale is set for August 28 at the Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion. The live auction sale begins at 10 a.m.
The sale features a blockbuster catalog of 264 yearlings. Based entirely on the youngsters lining up to prance into the sales ring, this should be the strongest yearling sale ever held in Texas. Classic winners Exaggerator, Union Rags, Accelerate, Tapwrit, Mucho Macho Man, Cloud Computing, Country Houseand Tonalist are all represented, as are popular Texas stallions Competitive Edge, Bradester, Mr Speaker and Too Much Bling. In fact, Competitive Edge, a graded stakes winner of $520,000 who stands at Valor Farm in Pilot Point, has 10 yearlings in the sale, more than any other stallion.
The sensational Mitole, who in 2019 won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) as well as the Met Mile (G1) on his way to championship honors, is represented by four yearlings in the sale. Six of the yearlings being offered are by Spun to Run, who won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and earned $1,160,520; four are by Vino Rosso, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner who was the 2019 champion older male. From Vino Rosso’s first crop, The Wine Steward won the recent Bashford Manor Stakes.
“The hurdles Texas racing is going through at the moment are discouraging, but I am confident there will be a solution soon to rectify the issues,” said Melanie Martinelli of Solitude Thoroughbreds in Alvord, Texas, which has jumped into the state’s Thoroughbred industry with its 14 yearlings representing its first consignment. “We are continuing on the path we’ve chosen for ourselves in Texas. The Yearling Sale is going to be a strong indicator of the Texas-bred market. We really like this group of yearlings we are bringing to the auction.”
Six of the yearlings in the Solitude consignment are from the first crop of King Zachary, a multiple stakes winner of $366,120 and the only son of the great Curlin standing in Texas. When King Zachary won the 2019 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga, he set a track record (2:52.97) for 1 3/4 miles that still stands. Hip No. 170 by King Zachary is out of the stakes-winning mare Notacloudinthesky and so is a half-brother to three winners.
Like Martinelli, Jeff Hooper, the chairman and CEO of Highlander Training Center, said he’s disappointed with the current political issues surrounding Texas racing, and he’s also optimistic.
“Horsemen are optimistic by nature,” Hooper said, “ and I’m optimistic about this upcoming yearling sale. There’s always a market for a good racehorse, and I think our consignment overflows with potential. We’ve focused on the regional horses, and I’m very pleased with the group. We have some very nice Kentucky-sired Texas-breds, and the quality of the Louisiana-bred yearlings is especially strong.”
The Highlander consignment is comprised of 18 fillies and 18 colts — all of them “client horses,” Hooper pointed out.
Hip No. 112 could be one of the more popular yearlings in the sale. A handsome bay colt by the champion Improbable, he’s out of the stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Holiday Girl and a half-brother to the stakes-placed Twirl Girl, as well as three more winners. And Hip No. 191, also from the Highlander consignment, could be appropriately named. A chestnut son of the great sprinter Imperial Hint out of the graded stakes-winning mare Ready’s Gal, He’s Ready to Win is a half-brother to the graded stakes winner Machen and the stakes-placed Mawthooq, as well as three other winners.
Hip No. 87, a Spun to Run colt from the Oakridge Farm consignment, is a half-brother to eight winners, including the undefeated 2-year-old Divining Humor, winner of the recent TTA Futurity. And Hip No. 143, a Flatter colt, is a half-brother to Texas Chrome, a multiple stakes winner of $1,033,362, as well as stakes-winning Patrona Margarita.
The sale is open to the public and admission is free. Download a 2023 Texas Summer Yearling Sale catalogue here with more information at http://www.TTAsales.com.
Amerman Racing’s Tumbarumba thundered down the center of the Ellis Park track to score his first stakes victory in the Aug. 13 $250,000 Ellis Park Derby.
Tumbarumba was ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Brian Lynch. Tumbarumba covered the one-mile distance in 1:36.02.
The field of eight 3-year-olds broke well in the Ellis Park Derby as longshot Olazabal was hustled to the early lead under jockey Alex Achard. Tumbarumba broke from the rail but Bejarano moved the Louisiana-bred in the two-path and settled in fourth. Following a strong half-mile in :46.33, Olazabal began to tire as Transect and Blue Light dueled on the lead. At the quarter-pole, Bejarano tipped Tumbarumba to the four-path outside Transect and the closing Loyal Company as he began to show his best stride. Inside the eighth pole, Tumbarumba was able to gain the lead over the battling rivals and pulled clear late for a three-quarters of a length victory.
Tumbarumba’s record now stands at a solid 4-1-1 from nine starts with purse earnings of $254,870. The son of the former Lynch-trained Oscar Performance was bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms.
The LTBA Board of Directors voted to make changes to the Louisiana Breeders Awards Schedule at their August 8, 2023, meeting.
Breeders Awards for accredited foals by Louisiana domiciled stallions and out of Louisiana domiciled mares are being increased to 25%. This change will be effective October 1, 2023, for races run in Louisiana.
All other awards will remain at the current percentage level.
Roger A. Heitzmann III
Secretary/Treasurer
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association
504-947-4676
800-772-1195
OPELOUSAS ~ Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023 at a 12:30 p.m. Liturgy of the Word in Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel in Carencro for Kenneth Joel Lavergne, Sr., age 90, who passed away Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at the Southwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jennings.
Interment will be in Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas. Deacon David Menard, will officiate at the services.
Mr. LaVergne was a native of Opelousas and lifelong resident of Sunset. He was a parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church where he served as a Lecturer. Mr. LaVergne attended the University of Houston from which he received his Doctorate in Pharmaceuticals. After completing this doctorate, he joined the military. He is a proud veteran of the United States Army and served in the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” as a medic during the Korean conflict; Mr. LaVergne returned to Louisiana and became the owner/operator of Sunset Pharmacy. He also worked as a relief pharmacist at several local pharmacies throughout the years.
Mr. LaVergne was a thoroughbred breeder and was on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Board of Directors in the early decades of the program.
Survivors include his five sons, Kenneth Joel LaVergne, Jr. of Honey Grove, Tx, Clyde LaVergne and his wife, Chanda, of Lewisburg, Brett Duval LaVergne and his wife, Judy, of Youngsville, Thomas Donahue LaVergne and his wife, Lori, of Arnaudville, and Rene’ LaVergne and his wife, Sonya, of Little Rock, AR; his former wife, Willie Nezat LaVergne Fruge; one sister, Libbye Crump; nine grandchildren, Tucker LaVergne and his wife, Paige, Bethany LaVergne, Brett LaVergne and his wife, Cali, Olivia LaVergne, Brun LaVergne and his wife, Tai, Alex LaVergne Doucet and her husband, Grant, Allison LaVergne, Jessica LaVergne and Zachary LaVergne; and five great-grandchildren, Cohen LaVergne, Celia LaVergne, Clyde Andrews LaVergne, Wilson Daniel LaVergne, and Annie LaVergne.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph LaVergne, and the former Louise Sibille; four brothers, L.J. LaVergne, Eugene LaVergne, Carrol LaVergne, and Bernard LaVergne; and three sisters, Irma Quirk, Lillian Barry, and Roslyn Soileau.
A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home led by his son Rene’ LaVergne.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday and will continue from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday.
Pallbearers will be Tucker LaVergne, Zachary LaVergne, Brun LaVergne, Noah Fusilier, Cohen LaVergne, and Brett LaVergne.
Melancon Funeral Home, Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel, 4117 N. University Ave., Carencro, (337) 896-3232, is in charge of arrangements.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Kenneth, please visit our Tree Store.
The Breeders Sales of Louisiana 2023 Yearling Sale followed by Mixed Session catalog is now online on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) website.
The printed catalog is in production and will be in the mail mid to late August.
The Yearling Sale which will be followed by a Mixed Session under the banner of Breeders Sales of Louisiana, will be held on Thursday, September 28th at the Equine Sales of Louisiana facility in Opelousas, La.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, September 30th, the LTBA Board of Directors decided to move the date of the 2023 Sale to Thursday, September 28th, in order to attract buyers between the Keeneland and Fasig Tipton Mid-Atlantic Yearling Sales. LTBA hopes toattract more nationally prominent trainers and buyers who have traditionally skipped the Breeders Sale to go to Fasig Tipton.
The Breeders Sales of Louisiana 2023 sale has attracted its largest catalog to date since the LTBA jumped in to fill the void left by Equine Sales of Louisiana in 2021. The 2023 catalog includes 162 yearlings, 41 broodmares, 3 weanlings and 2 horses of racing age.
In the 2022 Sale, 138 yearlings were cataloged with 18 withdrawn. 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, one horse of racing age sold for $7,000, and nine broodmares sold for a gross of $67,800. 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
Bossier City, LA – It was another excellent edition ofLouisiana Cup Day on Saturday, August 5 at Louisiana Downs. The quality of the Louisiana Thoroughbred breeding industry shone brightly in each of the six stakes on the program.
Despite temperatures in the low 100’s tremendous performances were noted throughout the afternoon with each of the defending champions denied by top efforts in the full and competitive fields. Here is a recap of the six Louisiana Cup stakes.
Norah G Returns to Glory in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Norah G takes the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Ann Switalski Photography
The $75,000 Louisiana Filly and Mare Sprint kicked off the stakes portion of Louisiana Cup Day, with eleven Louisiana-bred fillies and mares taking on defending champion and LTBA champion filly Free Like a Girl.
The competition was fierce right out of the gate and it was Thomas Galvin’s homebred Norah G who won the race in gate-to-wire fashion. Breaking from the rail under jockey Emanuel Nieves, she carried her speed throughout the six furlong main track sprint, crossing the wire in 1:11.74.
Trained by Patricia West, the 3-year-old daughter of Fast Anna won the $112,000 Louisiana Futurity on December 31 for trainer Patricia West. This was her first start since January andGalvin was on hand to accept the trophy on the filly named for his youngest granddaughter Norah, who will turn nine at the end of this month.
“It was incredible,” said Galvin. “I was surprised she broke so well and that she would not be denied! Nieves gave her a great ride and Patty has been a godsend to us. She takes wonderful care of our horses and as an owner, I appreciate her communication skills.”
Also incredible, the 10-cent superfecta payout of $2,465 with Norah G ($44.80), followed by Final Quest at 31-1; Miss Priority, 36-1 and Zydeco Music, sent off at 13-1.
Free Like a Girl broke from the far outside post and never advanced from mid-pack, finishing eighth. She has won 13 of her 28 starts for owners Gerald Bruno, Jr; Carl J, Deville; Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom. She has banked $951,578 since making her debut in 2021.
Galvin may consider a start at Kentucky Downs for Norah G, whose record stands at three wins from five starts and earnings of $163,955.
Star Moment Proves Her Affinity for the Turf in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff
Star Moment victorious in Louisiana Cup Distaff. Ann Switalski Photography
The first turfstakes of the card, the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff, drew ten fillies and mares who will travel a mile and one-sixteenth over the Franks Turf Course.
Proving her versatility for the main track as well as the turf. Star Moment garnered the third stakes of her career for owner Intrepid Thoroughbreds, LLC (Tyron Picard and Stephen C. Henry). Previously trained by Ron Faucheux, the daughter of Star Guitar is now in the barn of Bret Calhoun. He was at Ellis Park this afternoon but was reached for comment following the race.
“She was impressive today,” said Calhoun. “I watched the race and she looked sharp and didn’t seem to have an issue with the heat. We didn’t think she could get beat in her last, but the track was deep, so maybe that was the case. We’ve started her four times and she’s won two stakes!”
A jockey claim of foul was disallowed, and rider Tim Thornton was pleased with her effort. As she stalked the pace and drew clear by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 1.41.22.
“She’s a class filly,” he stated. “I just got her in position and she took it from there.”
Front runner Birde Call held for second, followed by Wholelottamo and Eve’s Delight. Defending champion Cheapskate Diva mounted a bid at the top of the stretch, but finished sixth.
Star Moment ($11.20), bred by Brittlyn, Inc., has won five of her eight lifetime starts. Calhoun is considering options but is leaning toward giving her some time off and pointing to the Fair Grounds meet
Strong Promise Keeps His Win Streak Intact Capturing the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile
Strong Promise adds Louisiana Cup Juvenile for third win in as many starts. Ann Switalski Photography
The $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile for Louisiana-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings attracted a field of ten at the distance of five and one-half furlongs on the main track.
Norman Racing Stables, LLC’s Strong Promise made his Louisiana Downs debutand lived up to his favored status, drawing off to a 2 1/2 length victory for trainer Jayde J. Gelner, in a speedy 1:05.52. The 2-year colt by Broken Vow out of the Macho Uno mare St. Jean, is undefeated in two starts. Bred by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall. Strong Promise won at first asking, romping by a margin of 10 lengths on June 3 at Evangeline Downs before winning the $150,000 TTA Futurity at Lone Star Park on July 1.
“He’s a really nice horse and I am grateful to Mr. Norman and Jayde for the opportunity to ride him,” said winning pilot Luis Fuentes.
Gelner is the son of conditioner Scott Gelner and is a young horseman to watch. The 22-year-old has only been training for two years and has already topped his 2022 win and earning stats in the first month of this year.
“I thank Robbie (Norman) and my great team,” said the young trainer. “My dad picked Strong Promise in the (2021) Texas Thoroughbred 2-Year-Old Sale,” said Gelner. “He went for $125,000, but we knew from his first breeze at Copper Crown that he had talent.”
The third-generation horseman is off to a sensational start, and Robbie Norman was proud of both Jayde and his undefeated juvenile.
“That was a big purchase, but he has paid that off already,” stated Norman. “We feel he has a very bright future.
Good and Stout rallied for second under jockey C J McMahon, followed by El Dinero, also bred byJ. Adcock and Hume Wornall and Deal With it Daddy, who ran second in the D.S. Shine Futurity at Evangeline Downs.
Tap Galore Outduels her Stablemate in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies
Tap Galore takes Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies. Ann Switalski Photography
A field of 10 accredited 2-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies, competed in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies Several first-time winners will face off in the five and one-half main track sprint.
The victory went to Thompson Racing, LLC (Stephen F. Thompson)’s Tap Galore who broke maiden for trainer Jayde Gelner. The filly by Tapiture was bred by J. Adcock and Hume Wornell and exited a fifth place finish in the D.S. “Shine” Futurity at Evangeline Downs. She crossed the wire in 1:06.18 over her stablemate Thompson Racing LLC,’s Diamond Deal.
Joel Dominguez had the call and studied her previous two races.
“I watched the replays and wanted to be patient,” he explained. “I felt she would run better laying off the speed and she responded.”
Viv’s Wild Aces, who won here on June 5 for trainer Joe Duhon, ran third followed by Running Argument who had won the first two races of her career.
The victory by Tap Galore was the eighth stakes win this year for Gelner and he took a minute to reflect on the success in just his second year of training.
“I believe in setting goals, so when we were entered in four stakes today, I felt we would have solid chances,” said Gelner. “I am grateful to my owner and proud of the hard work of our team. I will continue to have high expectations and strive to achieve success for our barn.”
Woods N Water Defeated a Deep Field in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic
Woods N Water wins Louisiana Cup Turf Classic. Ann Switalski Photography
The $75,000 Louisiana Turf Cup Classic attracted 12 runners going a mile and one-sixteenth over the Franks Turf Course. Several proven turf stakes winners, including 2021 champion Carlea’s Dream and Budro Talking, who captured the trophy in 2020, are entered.
However, there was a new turf star entered and Woods N Water claimed the victory under a very confident ride by Tommy Pompell. Owned by Richard Painter and John Dewberry, the 4-year-old son of Palace has been very accomplished on the turf, winning the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf at Evangeline Downs for trainer Lee Thomas.
Sent off as the favorite, the bay gelding sat off the pace in the early stages of the race, rating behind horses, until Pompell guided through an opening in the stretch and surged to the wire in 1:42.12.
Thomas was in California attending his wife’s grandmother’s 99th birthday party, but did not miss a moment of the race.
“That was a beautiful ride by Tommy,” said Thomas. “I was a little nervous about his first start on the Louisiana Downs turf course and of course, about the heat. But he had enough to finish and just keeps getting better on the grass.”
Oh My Aching Arch rallied for second, followed by Silver Galaxy and Real City Speed. Budro Talking, winner of the 2020 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic ran fifth with defending champion Carlea’s Dream, finishing seventh.
This was the fifth win in nine starts this year for Woods N Water ($5.60), who has banked $244,455 in 19 lifetime starts. He was bred by Orange Grove Thoroughbreds Inc. and Richard Painter.
X Clown Springs the Upset in the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint
X Clown upsets Louisiana Cup Sprint. Ann Switalski Photography
The $75,000 Louisiana Turf Cup Sprint on the program witha solid field of nine sprinters traveling six furlongs on the fast main track.
It marked the biggest upset of the card with X Clown lighting up the tote board at 25-1 as he broke like a rocket and never relinquished his lead under jockey Devin Magnon. The 6-year-old gelding by Jimmy Creed was clocked in 1:11.06.
Owned by BW and HTS Stables, LLC (Jay Sheffield and Ray Mabile) and Jason G. Grudzien and trained by Rylee Magnon, was claimed for $20,000 in March Rylee and Devin are married and a true “hands-on” racing couple.
“As a trainer, I feel that I do better with older horses,” said Rylee. “We claimed him and gave him a fresh start. Our game plan was to take back and track the speed, but when he broke so well, he ended up being the speed!”
X Clown had been defeated twice by the defending champion Black Sword, but Devin gave credit to his wife for establishing a training routine that X Clown seemed to appreciate.
“He responded very well and got better and better in his works,” explained Devin. “We were concerned that he would be nervous shipping, so Rylee rode in the trailer with him! He stayed calm and broke super. As well as he was traveling, I felt we could outlast the speed and when he switched leads, he just went to running!”
Bred by Michael Villar and Cynthia Villar, X Clown ($52.40) was followed by Pickens, under rider Carlos Lozada and Mike J with Aubrie Green in the saddle finishing in a dead heat with post time favorite Big Chopper.
About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is now owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. 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.
Louisiana Cup Day six stakes races for Accredited Louisiana Breds, Louisiana Downs, Bossier City.
LTBA Scholarship Drawings; two $1,000 scholarships for current college students. (Registration between 12:05-1:05 p.m. Drawings for two scholarships will occur at the winners circle after the 5th race. Must be present at winners circle to win.)
August 8
LTBA Board of Directors Meeting 11:00 a.m., Prejeans Lafayette
August 11
Stallion Awards to be Mailed
August 12
Delta Downs stall applications due for 2023-24 Thoroughbred Meet
Evangeline Downs Closing Day of 2023 Thoroughbred Meet
August 15
LTBA Board of Directors election nomination letters, resumes and photos due.
August 19
Cotton State Stakes, Louisiana Downs, Bossier City
August 28
Texas Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie
PREP WORK: Final Quest, a four-year-old filly, runs in the second race of Saturday’s Louisiana Cup Day at Louisiana Downs. (Submitted photo)
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports
Trainer Brett Brinkman is looking forward to watching how his four-year-old filly, Final Quest, runs in Saturday’s second race of Louisiana Cup Day at Louisiana Downs, against the state’s best Breds.
But he won’t be leaving the track once the horses cross the finish line.
Brinkman will stay for the third race. Not because a horse he trains will be running, but because of a horse Brinkman bred — Fort Polk.
The National HBPA is sharing this press release from HIWU to help keep horsemen informed:
The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) announced that it has launched a mobile HIWU app to assist stakeholders in the Thoroughbred industry with the components of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program.
The free app is highlighted by a Prohibited Substances database, through which users can look up any of the substances that comprise HISA’s Prohibited List of more than 1,300 Banned Substances and Controlled Medications. Each substance listing is populated with information about the substance such as HISA classification, licensed and colloquial names, Detection Times and Screening Limits (as applicable), and the Food and Drug Administration label’s indication for use.
In addition to the substance lookup tool, the app includes access to all educational materials on the HIWU website and the ability to submit tips through HIWU’s anonymous whistleblower platforms. Pending and resolved matters concerning potential violations of the ADMC Program are also available for viewing at any time.
The app is configured to send push notifications to mobile devices to alert users about important updates.
“HIWU is pleased to offer a convenient app to the Thoroughbred industry to enable participants to access important resources about the ADMC Program wherever they are,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “We are especially excited about the substance lookup feature, which will bring this important information to the fingertips of horsemen, veterinarians, and others who need to be able to easily consult the Prohibited List.
“The app is inclusive of HIWU’s broader education efforts to assist industry participants to operate in compliance of the ADMC Program.”
The app is now available for download on the Apple and Android app stores.
Background: Current ADMC rules include a rule adopted from the World Anti-Doping Code requiring that any Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) whose Covered Horse tests positive for a Banned (doping) Substance be Provisionally Suspended while his/her case is being processed. A Provisional Suspension does not in any way change the presumption of innocence and is not an early determination of guilt. Instead, it is intended as a precaution to safeguard the integrity of the sport, horse welfare, and the rights of rule-abiding trainers. Provisional Suspensions have been instrumental in protecting the integrity of other sports and were introduced into horseracing for that reason.
Discussion: Last Friday, HIWU was informed that a split (B) sample did not confirm the original Laboratory finding, and, accordingly, pursuant to the ADMC regulations, HIWU dismissed the violation against a trainer who had been Provisionally Suspended 20 days earlier. This raised concerns regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions at this early stage of the ADMC Program’s rollout. Consequently, HISA’s ADMC Committee, which has oversight of the HISA ADMC rules, held a meeting and decided to make various policy decisions regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions under the ADMC Program. Various proposals received from horsemen’s groups were considered during the course of these discussions.
Policy Change: The following policy changes will be effective immediately and shall apply
to any Responsible Person Provisionally Suspended following a positive test for a Banned
Substance:
Any Responsible Person who requests that the B Sample be analyzed following a positive test for a Banned Substance shall be eligible for postponement of the effective date of the Provisional Suspension until such time as the B Sample result is returned. If the B Sample confirms the A Sample, the Responsible Person shall be Provisionally Suspended upon Notification of the B Sample confirmation, except that the Responsible Person shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the B Sample confirmation. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;
Any Responsible Person who does not request the B Sample analysis shall be Provisionally Suspended upon such election, except he/she shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the A Sample positive finding. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;
Any Responsible Person with more than one horse that tests positive for the same Banned Substance within a six (6) month-period or who has received notice of another potential violation relating to a Banned Substance (e.g., possession, use) shall not be eligible for delayed imposition of a Provisional Suspension as set forth in paragraph 1 above;
Covered/Responsible Persons will continue to be Provisionally Suspended upon the notice of the A Sample result if the result involves the detection of the following Banned Substances:
During a Provisional Suspension, which is not a Final Suspension, Covered/Responsible Persons may engage in caring for and exercising their Covered Horses, except they cannot breeze or race Covered Horses registered to them. Should they want any Covered Horses to breeze or race, they must transfer those horses to another Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) in a bona fide transfer approved by the stewards. If the Responsible/Covered Person is an Owner, ownership of the Covered Horse must be transferred in order for it to be eligible to breeze or race. In addition, Covered/Responsible Persons: (i) must take down or cover any personal signage bearing their name or related to their operations where the Covered Horses are located at the racetrack; (ii) cannot claim Covered Horses or bring new Covered Horses into their barn; and (iii) cannot be employed in any capacity involving Covered Horses (including, but not limited to, acting as an agent for an Owner of Covered Horses or working as an exercise rider for Covered Horses.)
Additional Notes:
The Policy Change shall also be applied to any currently suspended Responsible Persons. HIWU will be in contact with all those currently Provisionally Suspended to explain next steps.
The Responsible/Covered Person must pay for the B Sample analysis within seven (7) calendar days of requesting it. In cases of financial hardship, and upon the demonstration of such hardship, the Covered Person may be entitled to a payment plan to cover the cost of B Sample analysis.
This new Policy will remain in effect for so long as the ADMC Committee deems appropriate. Should the ADMC Committee decide at some future date to abandon or modify it, the industry will receive at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice.
Public Reporting under the ADMC rules will continue to occur at the time of the EAD Notice of the A Sample positive test.
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