Category: 2019

FAIR GROUNDS RENEWS EFFORTS WITH COVENANT HOUSE TO SUPPORT KIDS IN LOCAL COMMUNITY

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NEW ORLEANS (November 30, 2019) – Following successful efforts to give back to the community during last year’s live racing season, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots once again partnered with the Covenant House program. On Wednesday, November 27 President of Fair Grounds Doug Shipley was on hand to deliver 25 fried turkeys, as well as the traditional fixin’s for the residents at Covenant House.

“We are proud to once again partner provide 25 turkeys and all fixin’s to the many families impacted by the Covenant House program who do such a great job taking care of our youth, but also on behalf of all the hard working families who have supported what we do here in our efforts to positively impact New Orleans and our communities,” said Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley.

Covenant House New Orleans (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/) provides food, clothing, and shelter for any and all young people who are accepted day and night without any questions asked. They offer stability, and teach lifelong values of communication that are built on trust and respect from the leaders of the program. Covenant House allows kids to choose change freely, and assist their young people in making positive decisions about their future.

They also offer education and employment opportunities. Covenant House assist with high school and college enrollment, as well as working with college bound residents to complete high school and graduate with a diploma. They offer job readiness, job search, and job placement for residents, working one on one with each individual including local job training program partnerships.

 

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global

Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107 the running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

Information set forth in this press release contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) provides certain “safe harbor” provisions for forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made pursuant to the Act. The reader is cautioned that such forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the following: the effect of economic conditions on our consumers’ confidence and discretionary spending or our access to credit; additional or increased taxes and fees; public perceptions or lack of confidence in the integrity of our business; loss of key or highly skilled personnel; restrictions in our debt facilities limiting our flexibility to operate our business; general risks related to real estate ownership, including fluctuations in market values and environmental regulations; catastrophic events and system failures disrupting our operations, including the impact of natural and other disasters on our operations and our ability to obtain insurance recoveries in respect of such losses; inability to identify and complete acquisition, expansion or divestiture projects, on time, on budget or as planned; difficulty in integrating recent or future acquisitions into our operations; legalization of online real money gaming and sports wagering in the United States, and our ability to capitalize on and predict such legalization; the number of people attending and wagering on live horse races; inability to respond to rapid technological changes in a timely manner; inadvertent infringement of the intellectual property of others; inability to protect our own intellectual property rights; security breaches and other security risks related to our technology, personal information, source code and other proprietary information, including failure to comply with regulations and other legal obligations relating to receiving, processing, storing and using personal information; payment- related risks, such as chargebacks for fraudulent credit card use; compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or applicable money-laundering regulations; compliance with payment processing and payment transmission regulations; work stoppages and labor issues; difficulty in attracting a sufficient number of horses and trainers for full field horseraces; inability to negotiate agreements with industry constituents, including horsemen and other racetracks; personal injury litigation related to injuries occurring at our racetracks; the inability of our totalisator company, United Tote, to maintain its processes accurately, keep its technology current or maintain its significant customers; weather conditions affecting our ability to conduct live racing; increased competition in the horseracing business; changes in the regulatory environment of our racing operations; declining popularity in horseracing; seasonal fluctuations in our horseracing business due to geographic concentration of our operations; increased competition in our casino business; changes in regulatory environment of our casino business; the cost and possibility for delay, cost overruns and other uncertainties associated with the development and expansion of casinos; concentration and evolution of slot machine manufacturing and other technology conditions that could impose additional costs; impact of further legislation prohibiting tobacco smoking; geographic concentration of our casino business; changes in regulatory environment for our advanced deposit wagering, sports wagering, or online gaming businesses; increase in competition in the advanced deposit wagering, sports wagering, or online gaming businesses; inability to retain current customers or attract new customers to our advanced deposit wagering, sports wagering, or online gaming businesses; uncertainty and changes in the legal landscape relating to our advanced deposit wagering, sports wagering, or online gaming businesses; and failure to comply with laws requiring us to block access to certain individuals could result in penalties or impairment in our ability to offer advanced deposit wagering, sports wagering, or online gaming.

Grazing Cattle With Horses Can Help Control Worms, Study Finds

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by | 11.30.2019

Grazing horses and cattle together has long been suggested as a tool for helping control strongyle worms, but little research has been done to prove its efficacy. The majority of gastrointestinal parasites are host specific, meaning that the infective stages of equine worms ingested by cattle won’t develop into adults; the same is true for cattle worms ingested by horses.

In addition, horses and cattle graze differently; horses graze close to the ground and avoid areas where there is manure. Cattle can’t graze as close to the ground as horses and will graze areas that horses avoid.

A new study out of France used 44 breeding farms in two different regions of the country to test the benefits of grazing both species together. The farms raised both sport horses and pleasure horses; some were equine-only farms and others grazed cattle with their horses.

Researchers used surveys and interviews to determine stocking rate, the amount of pasture used for grazing and how much deworming products were used, as well as general pasture management. They found the following:

  • Few farmers understood that grazing horses and cattle together could be part of their deworming protocol
  • Many farms still rely on fenbendazole though resistance to the drug is well known
  • Young horses treated with moxidectin and grazed with cattle had 50 percent fewer stronglye eggs in their feces then their counterparts that were grazed in horse-only pastures

The study concluded that grazing horses with cattle is a promising alternative to controlling worms that is largely unused by horse farm owners.

Read more at Equine Science Update

December Calendar of Events

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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 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Whispering Oaks Farm, and Equine Sales Company. Click images to link to more information

Dec 7

  • Louisiana Champions Day Entry Day
  • Holiday Twilight Racing, New Orleans Fair Grounds
  • Fair Grounds College Day, Scholarship Drawings; four $1,000 scholarships for current college students. (Two donated by Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc., and two donated by New Orleans Fair Grounds) Registration between 1:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Drawings scholarships will occur at the winners circle after the 5th race. Must be present at winners circle to win.

Dec 13

  • LTBA Board of Directors Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Copeland Tower Suites, Metairie 
  • Louisiana Champions Day Gala, 7-10 p.m., Copeland Tower Suites, Metairie
  • The Magic City Classic, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Dec 14

  • 29th Annual Louisiana Champions Day, 7 stakes for Louisiana Bred Thoroughbreds, 3 stakes for Louisiana Bred Quarter Horses New Orleans Fair Grounds, 1st Post 12:30 p.m.
  • U.S. Military and Colorguard present the colors for Louisiana Champions Day. 11:30 a.m. Members of the military to be honored throughout the day as guests of the LTBA
  • Louisiana Champions Day, Race Central, 12:30 through last race, New Orleans Fair Grounds, Black Gold Room. Lunch is served from 1pm – 3pm.
  • LTBA Scholarship Drawings; two $1,000 scholarships for current college students. (Registration between 11:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. Drawings for two scholarships will occur at the winners circle after the 5th race. Must be present at winners circle to win.)

Dec 15

  • Anyone with information about Louisiana Breds winning outside of North America, please contact Roger Heitzmann (Roger@louisianabred.com)

Dec 21

  • Santa Super Saturday, New Orleans Fair Grounds. Tenacious Stakes, Bonapaw Stakes, Blushing KD Stakes, Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes, Sugar Bowl Overnight Stake, Letellier Memorial Stakes

Dec 24

  • Christmas Eve – LTBA office closed

Dec 25

  • Christmas – LTBA office closed

Dec 26

  • Bob Fortus Memorial Stakes, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Dec 27

  • Lookout Stakes, Delta Downs

Dec 28

  • New Orleans Fair Grounds Stakes: Woodchopper Stakes, Pago Hop Stakes,
  • B-Connected Stakes, Delta Downs

Dec 29

  • Louisiana Futurity, Divisions for Fillies and for Colts and Geldings, New Orleans Fair Grounds

Dec 31

  • New Years Eve
  • Louisiana Stallion Registrations Due
  • Louisiana Futurity Nominations Due (pregnant mares)
  • FINAL DAY to apply for accreditation of 2019 Louisiana Bred foal at weanling rate  of $75. As of January 1, 2019, 2018 foals become yearlings and the rate increases to $250.

Jan 1

  • New Year’s Day – LTBA office closed

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.comfor consideration.

 

Any questions or need more info call

Roger A. Heitzmann III, Secretary/Treasurer

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association

504-947-4676

HARRAH’S LOUISIANA DOWNS ANNOUNCES POLICY ON HORSES SHIPPING FROM OKLAHOMA

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Bossier City, LA – Due to the outbreak of EHV-1 in Oklahoma City, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs will not allow horses from Remington Park or Will Rogers Downs to access its grounds. This decision was made on Friday, November 21 and will be in effect until further notice.

As widely reported,  cases of  Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)  were confirmed at Remington Park beginning on November 12.  Currently, there is no live racing at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, but the Bossier City racetrack serves as a training center for horsemen in between race meets. This was introduced in November, 2018 following the closure of the Evangeline Training Center.

“In order to protect our current horse population, we felt it was necessary to issue this policy,” said Eric Halstrom, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Vice President of Operations. “ Should horsemen have any question regarding this change in policy those inquiries should be directed to Louisiana Downs’ Director of Racing, David Heitzmann, or Stall Superintendent, Natalie Ardoin.”

The 2020 Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse meet will commence on Saturday, January 4.

Currently, the racetrack is open for training six days a week with full amenities including a clocker, outrider and ambulance service.  Security in the stable area is provided 24 hours a day, seven days each week. Located in the Bossier City-Shreveport metroplex, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is located in convenient proximity for shipping to Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana; Fair Grounds in New Orleans and the upcoming live season at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

 

Space and availability for Thoroughbreds is limited and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Horsemen are encouraged to contact David Heitzmann, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Director of Racing at (318) 741-2511 or (318) 741-2512 for rates and information.

 

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.

DELTA DOWNS ISSUES BAN ON HORSES FROM REMINGTON PARK FOLLOWING EHV-1 TEST POSITIVES

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– TEMPORARY ACTION TAKEN TO PROTECT LOCAL HORSE COLONY –

VINTON, LA. – Due to recent positive tests for Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) at Remington Park in Oklahoma, Delta Downs has issued a temporary ban on horses stabled at that racetrack from entering its stable area. This action is being taken to ensure the health and safety of Delta Downs horse population and will serve the best interest of local horsemen. The ban will be in effect until further notice.

 

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

Six Scholarships to be Awarded on College Day and Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans

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New Orleans, La. – The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will award six scholarships each valued at $1,000. Four scholarships will be awarded during College Day on Saturday, December 7. Two more scholarships will be awarded at Louisiana Champions Day on Saturday, December 14. Both events will take place at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
  • Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Spring 2020.
  • Must be in good standing with the college or university.
  • Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
  • Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
For College Day, December 7:
  • Registration: 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 3:00 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. 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.
For Louisiana Champions Day, December 14:
  • Registration: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 12:00 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. 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.
“The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association continues to make an investment in the future of our state by investing in our students and their education,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “This type of investment is for our future, the state, as well as the organization. Our hope is that these scholarships get the younger generations interested in thoroughbred racehorses so that our organization stays the top breeding incentive program in the United States.”
Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages one of the best incentive programs for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this has led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry generate over $1 billion in economic impact and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana.
For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call (504) 947-4676.

Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Moved to April 3

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The Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale will be held April 3, 2020, at Lone Star Park. The date was originally set for March 31 but has been pushed back to better fit with the national sales schedule and with the start of the Lone Star Park Thoroughbred meet. The breeze show will be held April 1. Presented by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, the sale will also include a horses of racing age session.

“We’ve already seen some added interest from consignors and potential buyers now that purses are on the upswing in Texas thanks to recent legislation,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “Sam Houston Race Park has announced a lucrative purse structure for their upcoming meet, and Lone Star Park is also expected to have larger purses this year. I expect there to be added demand for the Texas-breds in this sale now that buyers will have a chance to run for some nice money this summer, including the $100,000-estimated Texas Thoroughbred Futurity in two divisions for sale grads.”

The entry deadline for the sale is January 15, 2020.

 

For more information, go to ttasales.com.

Into Mischief and Mitole Available to Quarter Horses

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Breeding will be via artificial insemination handled by Robicheaux Ranch.

 

Spendthrift Farm has partnered with Robicheaux Ranch and will offer the opportunity for Quarter Horse mares to breed with leading Thoroughbred stallion Into Mischief  and recent Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Mitole  for the 2020 breeding season, it was announced Nov. 20. Quarter Horse mares will be bred via artificial insemination.

Between Spendthrift Farm owner B. Wayne Hughes looking for creative ideas and Ryan Robicheaux, manager of Robicheaux Ranch in Breaux Bridge, La., looking for an outcross, the venture interested both sides of the deal.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Former Jockey Sellers Still ‘In The Game’ With New Farm Role

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by

 

Shane Sellers at Keeneland, 1996

Former jockey Shane Sellers’ daily routine is far different than his previous lifestyle, yet he’s only 15 miles from Keeneland where he had some of his most successful moments on the track.

In a career that closed in 2013 after 30 years, counting a five-year premature retirement, Sellers won 4,393 races. His mounts, including Hall of Famer Skip Away, earned more than $130 million. Since his final race, Sellers has found his stride in farm life. He is content in his role as a key crew member at Safari North, the former Pauls Mill that was purchased in 2018 by his girlfriend, Susan Moulton. The picturesque facility has mares, foals, yearlings and racetrack lay-ups for a total of about 50 horses. The property also houses a few retired racers that Sellers and Moulton ride.

 

Read Paulick Report Article

MARIAH’S GALAXY WINS THE TREASURE CHEST AT DELTA DOWNS

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LOUISIANA-BRED ALSO WON THE MAGNOLIA STAKES ON OPENING WEEKEND

Mariah's Galaxy, Treasure Chest - 11-15-19
Maria’s Galaxy defeats open company in the $100,000 Treasure Chest Stakes at Delta Downs.

The Treasure Chest Stakes
Delta Downs, 11-15-19, One mile
Three-year-olds and upwards, fillies and mares, $100,000

MARIAH’S GALAXY
Greeley’s Galaxy–Black Mariah
Breeder: Margie K. Averett (LA)
Owner: Riley Blanchet and Todd Matte
Trainer: Victor Arceneaux
Jockey: Kevin J. Smith

2nd
She’s Our Fastest
Oratory–Dawali
Breeder: Eureka Thoroughbred Farm (TX)
Owner: Mark Norman and Norman Stables LLC
Trainer: Scott Gelner
Jockey: Thomas L. Pompell

3rd
Special Blessing
Flat Out–Langsyne
Breeder: J. Adcock (LA)
Owner: Coteau Grove Farms LLC
Trainer: W. Bret Calhoun
Jockey: Roberto Morales

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs hosted the 14th running of the $100,000 Treasure Chest Stakes on Friday night and the winner was Mariah’s Galaxy under jockey Kevin Smith. The Victor Arceneaux trainee has now won two stakes races already this season as she also took the $100,000 Magnolia on opening weekend, October 11.

Mariah’s Galaxy’s task in the Treasure Chest appeared to be tougher one as she was facing open company this time after beating Louisiana-breds in the Magnolia. She passed the test with flying colors however as she sat back in the 10-horse field while Summer’s Indy set the early pace of 23.01 seconds for the opening quarter mile and 47.40 for the half. As the field entered the final turn of the one mile event Smith called on his mount and she responded with a determined rally that put her 1-1/2 lengths in front of Shes Our Fastest at the wire while Special Blessing rallied for third, another four lengths behind the top pair. Summer’s Indy faded to fourth.

The final time for Mariah’s Galaxy over a fast track in the Treasure Chest was 1:39.51

The win by Mariah’s Galaxy, who is owned by Riley Blanchet and Todd Matte, was the ninth of her 24-race career. She banked another $60,000 for her win on Friday and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $302,485.

Bred in Louisiana by Margie K. Averett, Mariah’s Galaxy is a 5-year-old mare by Greeley’s Galaxy, out of the Devil His Due mare Black Mariah.

Sent to the gate at odds of 5-1, Mariah’s Galaxy paid $12 to win, $5.20 to place and $4 to show. Shes Our Fastest was worth $11.20 to place and $7 to show. Special Blessing paid $4.80 to show.

 

 

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.