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Thoroughbred breeders and owners are drawn to Ocala/Marion County Florida’s year-round moderate climate, mineral-rich water and soil, outstanding facilities and strong support industries. Why wouldn’t they be? Florida provides an exceptional agriculture and business climate for breeding, training and racing Thoroughbreds. We encourage you to visit us here in the Sunshine State to see for yourself why Ocala/Marion County is the ideal location to breed, raise, train and sell racehorses.
Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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10 FLORIDA FOCUS 21 FTBOA NEWS DIGEST By Carlos E. Medina
24 FTBOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATES BIOS 30 FOCUS ON QUALITY
William Schettine’s Signature Stallions serves as the centerpiece of his multifaceted Thoroughbred operation. By Jo Ann Guidry
40 ACTION JACKSON
Florida-breds Jackson Bend and Rosebud’s Ridge take second legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes series at Calder.By Nick Fortuna
42 WINNING GAMBLES
James and Ginny Gamble enjoy success with latest homebred stakes winner Gator Brew. By Jo Ann Guidry
44 WHAT’S BEST FOR OUR INDUSTRY? Transcript from The Jockey Club Round Table Conference on the topic of drugs.
52 FLORIDA CATTLE RANCING
A museum exhibit is traveling around the state and country honoring Florida’s rich ranching culture.
56 TO STITCH OR NOT TO STITCH
Sutures and staples are a necessary treatment for some wounds, depending on severity, type of wound and timing. By Orlaith Cleary and Amanda House
60 SLUETHING HORSE CRIMES
Florida International University’s DNA laboratory to join forces with law enforcement.By Denise Steffanus
64 PRACTICALLY SPEAKING: HOW NOT TO PULL A HORSESHOE By Mark Shuffitt
66 YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARK: MAKING STRIDES By Connie Duff Wise 67 HORSE COUNCIL NEWS 69 FTBOA CHASE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 71 FLORIDA’S LEADING SIRES 74 PLAYER’S PAGE By Paul Moran
COVER PHOTO BY SERITA HULT CONTENTS PHOTO BY CINDY MIKELL
2009 • VOL 52/ISSUE 9
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801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 (352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Compton Donald R. Dizney
BUSINESS MANAGER
A history of success begins with attention to the individual.
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Ben Baugh, Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt PUBLISHER Florida Equine Publications, Inc. (A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert Campbell, President/Board Chairman Fred Brei, 1st Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., 2nd Vice President Mark Roberts, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Michael Gilliam
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is published monthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Statistical Review in February. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publications or the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from THE FLORIDA HORSE©.
Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing in North America are compiled from data generated by Daily Racing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Services, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., the copyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited. A dvertisin g co py d ead lin e 5th o f mo n th p recedin g p ub licatio n. Su bscrip tio ns and ch ang e of add ress: Please m ail to – Circulation s D ep artment. T HE FL ORIDA H ORS E, 801 SW 60th Ave., O cala, Florida 34474.
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BOYD
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DIRECTORS Sheila DiMare Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso
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420 Acres • Training Facility 5/8-Mile Track • Stallion Barn Mare Barns • Yearling Barns
A Full ServiceThoroughbred Farm
899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 oo (352) 237-3834 Fax: (352) 237-6069 oo visit-www.doublediamondfarm.com
Richard E. Hancock THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 5
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Let’s Make A Deal
horoughbred industry leaders worked tirelessly with state legWhile an October legislative special session seems unlikely as of press islators during the last legislative session to hammer out guide- time in mid-September (see story on page 19), issues concerning the lines for Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe to follow compact could be heard at a special session in November or during in constructing a gaming compact that would benefit all parties—the the next regular session. state, the pari-mutuel industry and the tribe. “In short, the governor has granted the Seminole Tribe a monopoly When news broke Aug. 31 that Gov. Crist and the Seminoles agreed on gaming in this state,” Hancock said. “This new compact could put to a compact that strayed from the guidelines established in May, the Tampa Bay Downs out of business and certainly could prevent Ocala Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association released a from ever opening a Thoroughbred track. We intend to let the legislature know that this compact is a bad deal for Thoroughbred breeders, statement declaring that the “compact leaves much to be desired.” All of us involved in Florida’s Thoroughbred industry now must trainers and owners, and is not a good deal for the state either.” The FTBOA and industry leaders now set their sights on makwait even longer than originally anticipated to learn whether or not or when the pari-mutuel legislation passed earlier this year can be im- ing progress in Tallahassee on possibly getting the pari-mutuel legplemented and to what degree. Components of that legislation in- islation passed by itself, separate from the gaming compact. “The gaming issues are hotly contested in the Florida legislature and clude: reducing tax rate from 50 percent to 35 percent on slot-machine revenue; a not-for-profit Thoroughbred permit for there are literally hundreds of lobbyists representing a wide variety of Ocala/Marion County; a breeders’ flexibility bill, allowing for mod- gaming interests,” Hancock said. “The legislature linked the compact with the pari-mutuel legislation so that neither the SeminoleTribe of Florida nor ification of incentive awards and expanded card room legislation. the pari-mutuel industry could get their needs “We worked closely with the legislature last While our industry continues grappling met and then lobby aggressively to defeat everyspring to develop the parameters of a compact with issues that are certain to make longthing else relating to gaming.The SeminoleTribe that would be acceptable to us and to others in lasting impacts on how we all conduct would not be able to negotiate a compact and the pari-mutuel industry,” said Richard Hanbusiness in the future, the cyclical nature then defeat any or all pari-mutuel changes that cock, executive vice president of the FTBOA. “The governor and the Seminole Tribe have of the Thoroughbred industry suggests would help their competitors. At the same time, that a recovery is ahead of us. chosen not to follow those legislative directives the pari-mutuel industry couldn’t get their legisand instead have executed a compact that is a much larger expansion of lation approved and then lobby to defeat the compact, thus depriving the gaming than the legislature wanted. The compact also closes down the state of a much needed recurring revenue source for education. possibility of any meaningful expansion of gaming in any other area of “While this balancing of interest is understandable, it would be unthe state, including the Ocala/Marion County area.” fortunate if the Thoroughbred breeding industry had to wait until 2010 to implement the pari-mutuel industry changes that will help us surA few key provisions of the compact include: ■ All seven Seminole casinos, three of which are outside of Dade vive in this tough economic environment. We will continue to educate legislators on the importance of addressing the needs of the and Broward counties, get slots and blackjack; Thoroughbred breeders in this state sooner rather than later.” ■ A minimum annual payment to the state of $150 million; While our industry continues grappling with issues that are cer■ The tribe can stop making payments to the state if any Class III game tain to make long-lasting impacts on how we all conduct business in is authorized anywhere outside of Dade and Broward counties; ■ The tribe can reduce payments to the state if any additional gam- the future, the cyclical nature of the Thoroughbred industry suggests ing is granted to the facilities in Dade and Broward and the tribe’s that a recovery is ahead of us. ■ net win at its Broward and Dade facilities drops; For the latest news concerning Florida’s Thoroughbred industry ■ The only additional gaming outside of Dade and Broward that is between issues of The Florida Horse, allowed is a combined total of 300 historic-racing terminals and visit www.ftboa.com to stay abreast of all the headlines electronic bingo machines at any pari-mutuel licensed facility as Enjoy the October issue. of April 1, 2009.
T
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
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Our Florida Horses: Summer Best/COOKIE SERLETIC PHOTO
Past, Present, Future Transportation, entertainment, recreation…vocation. uan Ponce de Leon is known for a lot of things: Sailing with Christopher Columbus, discovering and naming Florida, searching for the Fountain of Youth, becoming the first governor of Puerto Rico, fighting as a soldier and sailor. He was also our first equine importer. In 1521, Ponce de Leon brought the original horses to the continental U.S. – or what would become the U.S. – when he shipped in 50 Andalusians, along with cattle and other domestic animals, onto Florida shores. It’s easy to forget how much our state has grown and evolved in the 488 years since those settlement days. In this issue of The Florida Horse, I hope you’ll take a moment to read “Florida Cattle Ranching – Five Centuries of Tradition,” an overview of a new 2,400-square foot museum exhibit that’s on display at the Tampa Bay History Center.Your whole family will enjoy this cowboy-approved, meticulous documentation of Florida cattle families and their past, present
J
and future influences on our economy, environment and heritage. Without horses, though, Florida ranching would be a different story, or maybe not a story at all. It’s difficult to imagine those early Floridians trying to round up cattle, tromping through palmettos and creek beds – on foot. And even today, while some cattlemen use ATVs or aircraft to pen up and treat their stock, you’d be hard pressed to find a sizeable outfit that doesn’t need and use horses in some fashion. Our Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles Bronson, is just one rancher who knows that well. If Florida’s history points toward our horses, then surely our present and future do, too. Today’s equine industry runs the gamut from racing to ranching, showing to recreation, breeding to veterinary and professional services, entertainment to transportation. At last month’s 10th Annual Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show, hundreds of horsemen and women from across the state traveled to Ocala for a day of in-depth, educational seminars. This month, whether you attend the FTBOA Annual Meeting or the International Laminitis Symposium, or any other major industry event, you’ll see our state pulling together to solve problems and continually improve the health of our horses and our industry. And tomorrow? Call me hyberbolic, but possibilities are endless. The public will always gravitate to the magical, magnetic, magnificent qualities intrinsic to every horse. Recession or no recession. ■
COOKIE SERLETIC PHOTO
We are all Florida, all the time. It’s our privilege to journey with you.
8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
Sincerely,
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Black Mambo, Spanish Steps Get Florida stallions Black Mambo and Spanish Steps notched their first stakes winners over the Labor Day weekend. at Monmouth Park on Sunday. Meanwhile, El Suri became Martin Stables South stallion Spanish Steps’ first stakes winner in Sunday’s Clasico Jose Coll Vidal Stakes at
Florida-bred Medaglia d’Oro Filly Sells for $1.3 Million at Keeneland By CARLOS E. MEDINA A Florida-bred Medaglia d’Oro filly sold for $1.3 million to top the third day of the Keeneland September yearling sale last month. Hip No. 570 was bred by Gilbert Campbell at his Stonehedge Farm South in Williston and is out of the stakes-placed mare Beaties for Real. She’s also a half-sister to graded stakes winners Friel’s for Real and Ryan’s for Real. Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation bought the filly after a spirited round of bidding. “I tell you, she was looked at, vetted and scoped numerous, numerous, numerous times,” said Larry King, Stonehedge’s farm manager. “She was pretty much the talk of the sale.You couldn’t go anywhere without people saying something about her. She was a class act. All the major players looked at her, and she was on their list somewhere.” Live Oak Plantation is the racing division of Weber’s Live Oak Stud in Ocala. The filly’s sale to the operation also delighted King. “That’s a great operation. We are glad they bought her,” he said. “She will get a great chance of being a great race filly and mare as well as a broodmare. You couldn’t ask for a better place to send her.” 10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
A Florida-bred Medaglia dʼOro filly (Hip No. 570, above) bred by Gilbert and Marilyn Campbell (left), sold for $1.3 million to top the third day of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 16.
The filly was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield Sales, which is based in Morriston. The filly was their first million-dollar sale. Medaglia d’Oro fillies have been particularly popular as of late thanks to Rachel Alexandra, who beat males in three Grade 1 races this year, including in the Preakness (G1). Live Oak bought another Florida-bred Medaglia d’Oro filly for $275,000 at the August OBS selected sale of yearlings. That filly was bred by Rick McDonald and Deirdre M. Wulff. She is out of the Phone Trick mare Lolabell. ■
Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico Big Push, bred by Rustlewood Farm in Reddick, won the 5½-furlong Gilded Time by a neck in a gate-to-wire performance over fellow Florida-bred Ju Jitsu Jax. It was a fitting win for Big Push as the 3year-old gelding had crossed the wire first in the Dean Kutz Stakes at Canterbury Park in July, but was disqualified for interference and officially placed in second. “We are absolutely delighted,” said Bill Murphy, who raced Black Mambo and still owns the sire as a part of a syndicate. “The only thing missing on his resume was having a stakes winner, and now we’ve got it.” Big Push sold for $45,000 at the April 2008 Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction and is owned by Majestic Farms LLC and DeBill Racing LLC. Out of the Allen’s Prospect mare Listentothebells, the gelding has won four of his 12 starts for $162,684 under trainer Steve Klesaris. Black Mambo entered stud in 2005 and his first crop of foals are 3-year-olds. A son of Kingmambo, Black Mambo sold for $1.1 million as a yearling at the September 2000 Keeneland auction. He stood for a $4,000 stud fee in 2009. “There is a lot of speed in the Black Mambo’s. I tell you, I think I made a mistake with him when I raced him,” Murphy said. “His trainer, Frank Gomez, thought he would be a good sprinter. But I liked horses that went a bit of distance. When he finally ran a sprint race he was stakes placed, but it was a bit too late. I didn’t listen.” LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTOS
BY CARLOS E. MEDINA Black Mambo, who stands at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, was represented by Big Push with his win in the Gilded Time Stakes
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First Stakes Winners He finished second in the 6½-furlong Reappeal Stakes at Calder Race Course as a 5-year-old. “He’s been knocking at the door for his first stakes winner for a while and we are happy to see it,” said Jeff Schwietert, stallion manager at Bridlewood. “He’s had several stakes-placed horses. His babies look a lot like Spanish Steps him. They have good body with strong hindquarters and they look fast. Most have shown they have ability.” Also on Sunday, El Suri, a juvenile colt bred by Martin Stables South in Reddick, won the Jose Coll Vidal, a Grade 1 race in Puerto Rico to give his sire, Spanish Steps, his first stakes winner. The 2-year-old, sent off as the heavy 1-5 favorite, won the race by 1¼ lengths in a contest which saw the colt surrender the lead late, only to come back in the stretch and take the victory. Starting from the outside post in the sixfurlong race, El Suri broke fast and set the pace through a halfmile. In the stretch, Frontier Tour, who was coupled with El Suri, took the lead as the Florida-bred colt fell back to third. But El Suri came on again, retook the lead and started to draw away when he crossed the wire. Black Mambo Out of the Summer
Squall mare Victoria’s Wedding, it was El Suri’s third lifetime start and his second win for trainer Jose Velez. Owned by Establo Villa Real, the colt was sold as a yearling in the August 2008 OBS auction for $8,500. He has earned almost $40,000. Spanish Steps is an unraced son of Unbridled and entered stud in 2005. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Unbridled’s Song and stood for a $10,000 stud fee in 2009. ■
The Jockey Club Releases Breeding Statistics The Jockey Club last month reported that 3,439 stallions covered 56,901 mares in North America during 2008, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 9. These matings have resulted in 31,727 live foals of 2009 being reported to The Jockey Club on Live Foal Reports. Florida had 3,593 foals in 2008 and has 2,892 registered foals this year. As in past years, The Jockey Club estimates that the reporting of live foals, at this point in time, is approximately 90 percent complete. The reporting of live foals of 2009 is down 8.2% from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 34,561 live foals of 2008. “As we announced last month, the North American registered foal crop projection for 2009 has been revised downward to 34,000 and the live foal returns to date reflect that,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s vice president of registration services. “Although breeding activity has been in decline for several years, the rate of decline accelerated in both the 2008 and 2009 breeding seasons so we will see fewer live foals born next year as well.” The 2009 registered foal crop projection of 34,000 takes into account that not all live foals become registered. In addition to the 31,727 live foals of 2009 reported through Sept. 9, The Jockey Club had also received 6,755 No Foal Reports for the 2009 foaling season. The number of stallions declined 5.5 percent from the 3,638 reported for 2007 at this time last year, while the number of mares bred decreased 7.1 percent from the 61,262 reported for 2007. The 2008 breeding statistics are available alphabetically by stallion name through the Publications and Resources link on The Jockey Club homepage at jockeyclub.com. Iuliano emphasized that the breeding statistics are not a measurement of the live foals born in each state or province, but rather a count of state/province-sired live foals, regardless of where the foals were born. He also stressed that the statistics should not be taken to represent the fertility record of any one stallion. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 11
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D’ Funnybone Gets Second Grade 2 Win By NICK FORTUNA If the Futurity is any indication of the future, than D’ Funnybone will be laughing all the way to the bank for years to come. At Belmont Park on Sept. 19 the Florida-bred colt romped to his second straight graded stakes win, capturing the D’ Funnybone $250,000 Futurity Stakes (G2) by 4¾ lengths. The son of D’wildcat, a stallion standing at Vinery in Summerfield, came through as the short-money favorite to win for the third time in four career starts. D’ Funnybone’s victory was reminiscent of his 10½-length score in the Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, when he sat just off the pace before taking command around the turn and pulling away from the field. With Hall-of-Fame jockey Edgar Prado aboard for the third straight race, D’ Funnybone rallied three wide to take the lead midway around the turn and drew off under a vigorous hand ride, stopping the clock for seven furlongs in 1:22.40.
“He ran the way we expected,” Prado said. “He was training great in the morning. He broke super, and I rode with a lot of confidence today. I know what he’s capable of, so I let the other two horses go and sat and waited. I was looking for him to see a target, and he was very comfortable there. D’ Funnybone, bred by Ocala’s Harold J. Plumley, increased his bankroll to $278,200. The colt broke his maiden by 7 ¼ lengths in his career debut at Calder Race Course in May, then ran second to Floridabred Jackson Bend in the $98,500 Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes in Miami. D’ Funnybone had a lead late in that July 11 race before coming up a half-length short. Following the Frank Gomez, D’Funnybone was purchased by Paul Pompa Jr. and transferred from the barn of Joseph Calascibetta to Rick Dutrow Jr. Dutrow said after the race that D’ Funnybone might conclude his juvenile campaign with a start in the $400,000 Champagne Stakes (G1), a onemile test for 2-year-olds at Belmont on Oct. 10. He said the Breeders’ Cup in November at Santa Anita Park is a possibility but added that he isn’t a fan of California’s synthetic racing surfaces. ■ NYRA PHOTO
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Soldier’s Dancer Strikes Again in President’s Cup
BILL DENVER PHOTO
By NICK FORTUNA When Soldier’s Dancer runs in the PTHA President’s Cup, he’s clearly the race’s commander in chief. The Florida-bred gelding won the $250,000 race at Philadelphia Park Sept. 19 for the second consecutive year, using his signature come-from-behind style to draw off for a three-length victory. Bred by Franks Farm, the striking gray horse has won 11 of his 31 starts for $1.41 million. Soldier’s Dancer, the 4-5 favorite, raced in fourth place for most of the nine-furlong race on a firm turf course, just one length behind the pacesetter, R J’s Brigade, who set slow fractions of 26.63 seconds for the first quarter- Soldier’s Dancer mile and 53.46 seconds for a half-mile. With Calder Race Course’s leading jockey, Manoel Cruz, in the irons, Soldier’s Dancer went four wide to find running room at the top of the lane and was too much for his five rivals, finishing in a time of 1:54.89. Florida-bred Vanquisher finished second. Herman Heinlein, a resident of Plantation in South Florida, owns Soldier’s Dancer. ■ 12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
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Maimonides to Stand at Vinery By CARLOS E. MEDINA Maimonides started his racing career with a blowout win to break his maiden in 2007. Injuries, however, shortened his career, and in September it was announced that the son of Vindication will retire to stud at Vinery in Summerfield. The colt out of the Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan was so highly regarded as a yearling that he fetched $4.6 million at the Keeneland September auction in 2006. Bought by Zayat Stables, the colt delivered on his promise in his first start. He won a 5½-furlong race by 11½ lengths in 2007. He took the lead from the start and drew off down the stretch for the impressive win at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Bob Baffert, the colt’s second start was in the Hopeful Stakes (G1). After leading early, he finished third. It was later discovered he had bucked shins. Though the 4-year-old was not able to show his best on the racetrack, Ahmed Zayat, who owns Maimonides, feels he is a top stallion prospect. “This horse has perfect conformation and impeccable pedigree and a world of raw talent,” Zayat said. “He is a horse with unfulfilled potential, but I hope that he will be able to prove himself in the breeding shed
like his (half) siblings El Corredor and Roman Ruler. He is the best horse I have ever owned. Period.” Maimonides is no stranger to Vinery, as he spent some time at the farm several months ago. “We would see him every morning. He was a really fine-looking horse,” said Declan Doyle, stallion administrator at the Summerfield operation. “We are really happy to have him. Everyone points to the notion that Florida breeders like speed, and he’s got plenty of that. The fact that he raced as an early 2-year-old will also be attractive.” The horse currently is in Kentucky, where he and Pioneerof the Nile – another Zayat horse set to stand stud at Vinery in Kentucky – were showcased during the Keeneland September yearling sale last month. Vinery General Manager Tom Ludt also believes Maimonides’ top pedigree will appeal to breeders. “Maimonides is very good-looking and obviously had a ton of speed,” Ludt said. “You couple that with the fact that he’s from the Seattle Slew line with two successful sires under his first dam, and as you can imagine, we’re quite excited about him.” A stud fee for the 2010 breeding season was not announced. ■
14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
NYRA PHOTO
Maimonides
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Yesbyjimminy to Stand At Bridlewood Farm By NICK FORTUNA
past few years. As a juvenile in 2006, he won his first three races, including the five-furlong Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash. Yesbyjimminy won four of his six starts as a 2-year-old, including a five-length score in the Criterium Stakes. Yesbyjimminy won the Eillo Stakes at Calder as a sophomore in 2007, and he had the finest season of his career the following year. He won six consecutive races in Miami last year, including the Major Moran Stakes, the Whippleton Stakes, the Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap and the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap (G3). Yesbyjimminy earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Kenny Noe, one point below his career-best mark. Yesbyjimminy finished his career with 11 victories in 25 starts, with eight additional finishes in the money. He won races from 4½ to seven furlongs. He made five starts this year, including a second-place finish behind Florida-bred Hypocrite in the Sunshine State Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. Yesbyjimminy is out of the Pentelicus mare Sisters Yesbyjimminy will stand at Bridlewood Farm. Creek. During the 2009 breeding season, Bridle“We are excited about Yesbyjimminy joining our stallion roster,” said George G. wood had a son ofYes It’s True standing at the Isaacs, Bridlewood’s general manager. “With farm, but Proud Accolade had to be euthathe success of Yes It’s True and Pentelicus as nized in June because of a severe neurologihis foundation, along with his brilliant and cal condition. Proud Accolade, who won the very consistent race record, we feel he is a Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park as perfect fit for the Florida market. He is also a 2-year-old in 2004, stood for a $4,000 stud a much-needed outcross for the Florida mare fee in 2009. His first crop of foals turned 2 this year. population.” Yes It’s True was a 10-time stakes winner, A seven-time stakes winner for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.,Yesbyjimminy was among the including the Frank J. De Francis Memorial top sprinters at Calder Race Course over the Dash Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park in 1999. ■ JIM LISA PHOTO
Florida-bred Yesbyjimminy has been retired from racing and will join the roster at Bridlewood Farm as a stallion for the 2010 breeding season. A stud fee for the 5year-old son of Yes It’s True will be announced at a later date. Yesbyjimminy, bred and raced by Trilogy Stables, a partnership led by Ocala’s Marion Montanari, is the second-richest horse ever sired by Yes It’s True with $586,940 in earnings. Only Florida-bred B. B. Best, with $760,195 in winnings, has earned more for the former Sunshine State stallion.
16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
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So ‘Macho’— With a gallant charge from the back of the pack, Macho Again came within a head of doing what few racing fans thought was possible—beating Rachel Alexandra. The superstar filly captured the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Sept. 6—winning by the smallest margin of her career—but not before Macho Again displayed his heart. Rachel Alexandra, who has captured the imaginations of racing’s most devoted as well as the general public, became the first female to win the Woodward in the race’s 56-year history. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro extended her winning streak to nine races while taking on older male horses for the first time. Macho Again, bred by Milan Kosanovich at Broken Back Farm in Ocala, was seeking his second Grade 1 victory, having captured the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs in June. He is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, and has won six of his 20 starts for $1.78 million. “I knew it was going to be a great race,” said Macho Again’s trainer, Dallas Stewart. “I knew he was ready. I’m never happy to be second, but it turns out like that. A couple more jumps, we might have got her, but she’s great. That’s horse racing.”—Nick Fortuna
18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
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—Even in Defeat Florida-bred Macho Again pushes Rachel Alexandra to the limit in Woodward Stakes at Saratoga
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 19
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Ocala Week Schedule
2009 ■ Thursday, October 8th Jockey Club Seminar Hilton-Ocala 11:30 A.M. RSVP by 12:00 P.M. Monday, Oct. 5th To Betsy Whiteaker at 352-629-2160
■ Friday, October 9th FTC Golf Classic Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club 8:00 A.M./1:00 P.M. tee offs. For more information contact Betsy Whiteaker at 352-629-2160
■ Saturday, October 10th FTBOA Annual Membership Meeting Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club 10:00 A.M.
■ Monday, October 12—Tuesday, October 13th OBS Fall Mixed Sale For more information contact OBS at 352-237-2154
The FTBOA Annual Membership Cocktail Party has been rescheduled to Sunday, March 14th, 2010. Look for more information and invitations in February 2010.
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Gilbert G. Campbell President
Fred Brei First Vice President
J. Michael O’Farrell Second Vice President
Mark Roberts Secretary Diane Parks Treasurer
DIRECTORS Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso Sheila DiMare Bonnie M. Heath III George G. Isaacs Jessica Steinbrenner Charlotte C. Weber Richard E. Hancock
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34474 Phone: (352) 629-2160 Fax: (352) 629-3603 visit us at www.ftboa.com e-mail: info@ftboa.com
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October Special Session on Gaming Compact Unlikely By CARLOS E. MEDINA hile Gov. Charlie Crist was hoping for a special legislative session in October to discuss the gaming compact he recently signed with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Senate President Jeff Atwater made it clear Sept. 10 he had other ideas. “This issue involves a series of complex conversations with a variety of interests and impacts throughout our state,” Atwater said in a statement. “There are policy decisions to be considered that are not well served by undue haste. If, or when, the Senate takes up this issue, it will be in a manner that allows for sufficient time to debate the facts and the merits of such policy.” The compact signed by Crist and the Seminoles deviates from the one passed by the Florida Legislature in the spring. Among other things, it now would allow for blackjack at all seven of the Seminole-owned casinos in Florida and would severely restrict the types of gaming that could be offered at pari-mutuel facilities across the state. The compact would call for a minimum $150 million payment per year from the Seminoles to the state. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association released its own statement on the compact after it was signed Aug. 31. “It is clear that the compact does very little to advance the interests of Florida’sThoroughbred breeders and owners,” said Richard Hancock, executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. “We worked closely
W
with the Legislature last spring to develop the parameters of a compact which would be acceptable to us and to others in the pari-mutuel industry.The governor and the SeminoleTribe have chosen not to follow those legislative directives and instead executed a compact which is a much larger expansion of gaming in this state than the Legislature wanted. The compact also closes down the possibility of any meaningful expansion of gaming in any other area of the state, including the Ocala/Marion County area. “We’re hopeful for a special session in November,” Hancock added, “and are now proposing that the pari-mutuel legislation be passed by itself and not tied to the gaming compact.” Currently tied to the compact is the issue of a reduced tax rate from 50 percent to 35 percent on slot-machine revenue in Broward and MiamiDade counties. The decrease would mean more money for breeders’ awards and purses at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park. The bill also gives Ocala/Marion County the opportunity to hold live Thoroughbred racing. Another issue of importance to the Thoroughbred industry is the breeders’ flexibility provision in the compact. The provision would allow for modification of awards by agreement rather than a change in legislation. In addition, pari-mutuels with card rooms will be able to offer no-limit poker and expand hours of operation. All issues were championed by the FTBOA, and were announced last October as part of FTBOA’s economic stimulus package for Florida’s Thoroughbred industry. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 21
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Protecting Your Future Recent (2009) legislation (pending compact) includes approval of a non-profit Thoroughbred permit for Ocala/Marion County, a lower tax rate on slots revenue from 50 to 35 percent, passage of a Breeders’ Flexibility bill and card room legislation that will allow card rooms to offer no-limit poker and expand hours of operation to 18 hours a day on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends. Following is a list of some of the industry’s major legislative accomplishments.
Passed Benefits Enabling Slot Machine Legislation (2005) Amendment 4 (2004) Florida-bred Stakes Program Promotional Funding (1998-99) Deregulation of racing dates in July 2001 (1998) Sales Medication Reporting Policy (1998) Elimination of tax on free admission (1998) Elimination of 10 p.m. curfew on simulcasting of Thoroughbred races (1998) Shuttle stallions (1998) Florida Owners’ Awards (1998) Tax reduction (1996) Cardrooms (1996)
Breeders’ Cup Meet (1996) Full-card Simulcasting (1996) Private Property Rights Act of Florida (1995) Changes in workers’ Compensation laws (1993) OBS granted ITW under a non-wagering permit (1992) Changes permitting full-card simulcasting if live races are preserved and purses enhanced (1992) Breeders now share in a percentage of the income of Interstate simulcasting (1991) Changing the source of income for Breeders’ Awards from breaks and escheats to a percentage of the handle (1991) Florida Statutes now identify the Thoroughbred industry as an Agricultural industry (1990-95) Intertrack Wagering (1990)
22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
Mandated that Thoroughbred license holders have signed contracts with the state’s breeders and horsemen’s group to pay Breeders’ Awards and Purses before a permit for slots is issued. Gave the citizens of Miami-Dade and Broward County the opportunity to decide on approving slot machine installation at existing pari-mutuel facilities. Sunshine Millions, Florida Million Day, Florida Cup Day ($15 million) Budget established for promotion of Florida’s horse industry. The double tax penalty for a permit holder who operates in more than one tax period will sunset in July 2001. Clarification of the medication reporting policy for Thoroughbred sales. Tracks no longer required to charge tax on free admission days. Thoroughbred tracks are allowed to carry full-card simulcasts of Thoroughbred racing after 10 p.m. Florida-based stallions ship to Southern Hemisphere countries for breeding purposes remain eligible for stallion owners’ awards, if returned to Florida for the North American breeding season. 1998 Sunset Provision removed Provides that one-half of on-track tax reduction goes towards purses. Tax on simulcasting is reduced from 3.3 percent to 2.4 percent ($2.5 million) to sunset in 1998. Allows Thoroughbred tracks the option of operating a cardroom during their live meet or simulcasting after 7 p.m. In the event a Thoroughbred track operates a cardroom, 50 percent of the net proceeds go to horsemen—47 percent to purses and 3 percent to Breeders’ Awards. Allows for the return of the Breeders’ Cup to Florida. Has the potential of increasing purses ($5.5 million) and Breeders’ Awards ($1.1 million). Requires fair compensation for the taking of private property. Savings of over $6 million annually to breeding and training farms. State-of the-art OBS sports teletheater constructed (1995). Full-card simulcasting experiment conducted at Calder Race Course (1995). Increased Breeders’ Awards by over $600,000 annually. Breeders and Stallion Owners’ Awards are now paid on a timely basis, along with the 7 percent increase. Preserved Green Belt Exemption. $10 million annual increase in purses; $1.2 million increase in Breeders’ and Stallion Owners’ Awards.
The Family Bill (1988)
Increased attendance.
Sunday Racing (1987)
Increased handle over 17 percent, resulting in additional purses of $8.5 million.
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FTBOA There are five (5) Director vacancies to be filled in 2009 for the election of FTBOA Directors. Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 1 of the FTBOA Bylaws, President, Mr. Gilbert G. Campbell, appointed a Nominating Committee to receive nominations from the membership and Board of Directors and recommend eight (8) nominees for consideration by the Board during its meeting on June 12, 2009.
After a review of the Committee’s report, the Board recommended a slate of eight (8) candidates. FTBOA Bylaws also provide for the nomination of candidates by member petitions, two (2) petitions were filed. As a result, ten (10) candidates were named for the five (5) Director vacancies: 1) Joe Barbazon, 2) Dean De Renzo, 3) Brent Fernung, 4) Wynn Jolley, 5) Phil Matthews, 6) Gary Mesnick, 7) Curtis Mikkelsen, 8) Michael Mulligan, 9) Gordon Reiss and 10) Jessica Steinbrenner. ■ JOE BARBAZON
that is now the current location of Pleasant Acres Farm. Joe and Helen have two sons, Ryan and Travis. Ryan manages ForeverSpring Farm in Kentucky, and Travis attends Blessed Trinity School in Ocala. Feeling the need for a fun family restaurant and having a love for sports, the largest sports restaurant in the area was opened in June of 2006. Just west of I-75 on Highway 27 in Ocala, you will find a building, which was once an Eckerd Drugstore, where Joe and family created Barbazon’s Sports Bar and Grill. Pleasant Acres now has five barns, 25 paddocks and offers boarding, foaling, layups and sales prep. The farm boards approximately 150 horses owned by various clients. Joe and Helen own 40 horses of their own consisting of broodmares, weanlings and yearlings. They have raised many stakes winners, including Presious Passion, the 2008 Florida Turf Champion and they are the recipients of the 2008 FTBOA Needles Award. To date this year, the Barbazons are the breeders of three stakes winners. They registered 12 Florida-breds in 2007 and four in 2008.
(Pleasant Acres Farm)
24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
■ DEAN DE RENZO (Hartley-DeRenzo Thoroughbreds) Dean De Renzo founded Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds with partner Randy Hartley in 1992. The company began as a pinhooking operation and has evolved into a full service, breeding, training and sales facility. Located on 65 acres just west of Ocala, Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds is one of the largest breeding and stallion operations in the state of Florida, standing 10 stallions in the 2009 breeding season, including Belgravia, City Place, Full Mandate, Omega Code, Pavarotti, Roar of the Tiger, Simon Pure, The Green Monkey, Werblin and With Distinction. Hartley/De Renzo has
CINDY MIKELL PHOTO
ELEANOR HANCOCK PHOTO
A native of Louisiana, and a second generation horseman, Joe has been working and doing business in Marion County since 1970. After visiting some of the beautiful farms in Ocala, Joe knew this was where he wanted to be. After 10 years at Grosse Pointe Stud Farm, Joe worked at Irish Acres Farm where he met his wife, Helen. They were married in 1983. Both with a passion for horses, they started Pleasant Acres Farm located on Shady Road with 10 acres of land and a couple of broodmares. Pleasant Acres Farm grew to 100 acres of horses. In 2001 it was time to relocate. The search brought them to north Marion County and into Morriston where they purchased a 300-acre farm
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Board of Directors Candidates Biographies been one of the most successful pinhooking operations over the past 15 years, while their training operation has developed and trained Grade 1 winners and classic contenders. Hartley/De Renzo participates as a consignor in the two-year-olds in training sales and established a world-record for selling the $16-million juvenile, The Green Monkey, at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training. De Renzo is one of the founders of the National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors (NATC) and is a past board member of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. He registered six Florida-breds in 2007 and eight in 2008.
■ BRENT FERNUNG (Journeyman Bloodstock)
CINDY MIKELL PHOTO
Brent Fernung has been involved in the Florida Thoroughbred industry for some 30 years. He and his wife, Crystal, own and operate Journeyman Stud in northern Marion County. Journeyman Stud is the home of Wildcat Heir, currently the leading first year stallion in North America for 2009, as well as other stallions Bwana Charlie, Circular Quay, Cowtown Cat, Exclusive Quality, Gaff, Indy Wind, Mass Media, Saint Anddan, Sweet Return and Teuflesberg. Fernung began his career working for Lasater Farm during that farm’s heyday in the late 1970s. When Lasater Farm closed in 1984, Fernung’s next position was on the same property as the farm manager for Franks Farm/Southland Division. In 1989, the Fernungs’ established Journeyman Bloodstock Services. Fernung took on the additional responsibility as the general manager of Cloverleaf Farm from 2000 until that farm closed in 2007.
Fernung purchased Eileen’s Moment, the dam of Lil E. Tee just months before that horse won the 1992 Kentucky Derby. In 2001, Fernung, as agent for Cloverleaf Farm, purchased the mare I’ll Get Along. I’ll Get Along’s weanling of that year was Smarty Jones, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004. In November of 2004, Fernung, as agent, sold I’ll Get Along for $5 million in public auction, the highest-priced broodmare to sell in the world that year. Several days after selling I’ll Get Along, Fernung, again as agent for Cloverleaf, purchased the mare, Apasionata Sonata, carrying grade 2 stakes winner, Bsharpsonata, Florida-bred 3-year-old filly champion of 2008. Apasionata Sonata’s 2 year old of 2009 is the highly regarded graded stakes-winning colt Backtalk, also a Florida-bred. Fernung is a past member of the board of directors of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company and was named the 2004 Florida Farm Manager of the Year. He registered 28 Florida-breds in 2007 and 14 in 2008.
■ T.WYNN JOLLEY (Mar-Wynn Farm) Wynn Jolley is a third generation horseman that has owned, trained and bred horses successfully for more than 40 years. A few of the horses Wynn bred include multiple graded stakes winners Wooden Phone and Wynn Dot Comma in addition to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Cash’s Girl. Wynn established Mar-Wynn Farm in Ocala in 1980. He has served as vice-president of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and is currently a member of the board of the Mountaineer Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Wynn registered 13 Florida-breds in 2007 and 10 in 2008.
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Board of Directors Candidates Biographies ■ PHILIP M. MATTHEWS, D.V.M. Dr. Phil Matthews has been a practicing equine veterinarian in Marion County for nearly 30 years. He came to Ocala in 1981 as an associate veterinarian at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital and became a partner in that practice in 1984. His veterinary affiliations include the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). He has served on several committees for the AAEP and is a past member of the board of directors. Dr. Matthews has been a speaker and instructor at various veterinary venues around the country and internationally. Dr. Matthews has also been involved in the Thoroughbred industry in several other capacities. He bought his first Thoroughbred in 1983. As a farm owner and breeder, he has had the good fortune of raising several stakes winners and has been involved in all facets of the industry including sales and racing. He registered four Florida-breds in 2007 and two in 2008.
■ GARY MESNICK Gary Mesnick has been involved with race horses for over 33 years. He owns and operates Thoroughstock, Inc., an Ocala-based bloodstock Agency. Among the graded stakes winners Thoroughstock has had in sales include Prismatical, Fara’s Team, Prospector’s Gamble, Talakeno and most recently Cirac. Thoroughstock is one of a limited number of agencies to sell a horse for a million dollars on two occasions at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company. Thoroughstock sells horses in Kentucky, Maryland, California and New York. Gary also owns, in partnership with Norman Dellheim, The Summit Farm, a full-service breeding and training operation. The Summit Farm has bred and raised a number of stakes winners, including All Hail Stormy, Midnight Miss, Lite the Fuse and Canadian Champion Judith’s Wild Rush. In addition, Mesnick has managed or been the assistant manager of farms in Kentucky and New Jersey. He was also closely involved with Gary and Steven Wolfson’s Happy Valley Farm and assisted them with syndication and marketing of stallions Buckaroo, Crafty Prospector, Silver Buck, Island Whirl, American Standard, Commemorate and Garthorn. Gary’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Animal Nutrition and a Master’s degree from the University of Florida
26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
in Agricultural Management. Gary has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers. Gary and his wife, Cassandra, have three children, Jessica, Joshua and Justin. Gary registered three Florida-breds in 2007 and two in 2008.
■ CURTIS MIKKELSEN (Flintridge Farm) Curtis Mikkelsen is retired from a career in sales and finance in the data processing industry. He is married to Patricia Horth and they have a daughter in Atlanta who is a sales executive with Charles Schwab and a son in Raleigh who is a software sales director with Red Hat. In 1989, Mikkelsen and his wife established Flintridge Farm in Brookeville, Maryland. They initially bought and sold (Pinhooked) Thoroughbreds. Soon thereafter they formed a small broodmare band and began breeding Thoroughbreds. In 1996 they bred Texas Gal, by Sky Classic, a three-year-old champion in Turkey. In 1997, they moved Flintridge Farm to Ocala, Florida and built a new 78-acre breeding facility. Their first 1997 Floridabred was the GSW, and five time stake winner Madame Pietra, who traveled from California to Florida to win the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Mikkelsen and Horth continue to breed, sell and race Florida-breds. In 2008, they had as many as eight horses in training at Calder. Currently, they have seven broodmares, including Madame Pietra’s dam and half-sister and Kip Deville’s half-sister. They currently have three racehorses stabled at Calder, including Grade 2 stakesplaced Private Betty. They registered three Florida-breds in 2007 and five in 2008.
■ MICHAEL MULLIGAN (Leprechaun Racing Management) Michael Mulligan, owner of Leprechaun Racing Management, Inc., was born near Prospect Park in Brooklyn and grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. His Irish descent (his Grandfather was an Irish immigrant) perhaps is what gave him a deep-rooted love of the horse and the drive which led him to the racetrack, farm life and, now, a highly successful pinhooking operation. It has taken years for Mulligan and his wife, Britt, to
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JOE DIORIO PHOTO
arrive at their present station in life, one that is full of hard work and constant demands, but contains many enjoyable rewards. Mulligan had riding horses while growing up in Arizona, where his father worked in the newspaper business. He attended Arizona State University and began working for Hertz Rental Car Company, later following a member of management to Budget. He also spent time walking hots on the Arizona fair circuit. Transferred to Jacksonville, Florida, he purchased a small horse farm outside of town, but remained in the rental car business. He always knew he would leave and enter the horse business full time. With a couple of mares, an occasional pinhook and a few inexpensive horses racing at Tampa Bay Downs, Mulligan moved to Ocala in 1994. There he met Britt Wadsworth, who sold him a horse. As fate would have it, the horse won with Britt as trainer. Soon the two became a couple and were married. Michael and Britt own and operate Leprechaun Farm and Training Center, a 200-acre full-service facility. They are involved in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry and specialize in two-year-old sales preparation and presentation. Michael is very involved with the National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors, currently president and heading both the advertising and futurity committees. Leprechaun registered nine Floridabreds in 2007 and 13 in 2008.
■ GORDON REISS Gordon Reiss, president of Gordon Reiss Insurance LLC, first moved to Ocala in 1985 after graduating from the University of South Florida. He opened Reiss and Associates Advertising, an Addy-award winning full-service equine advertising agency. In 1988 Gordon became general manager for Warnerton Farm, quickly acquiring Meadowlake and Stalwart for stallion duties. Meadowlake became a leading first-year juvenile sire with Eclipse Award champion Meadow Star ($1,445,740) from his first crop.
In 1998, Reiss opened Gordon Reiss Insurance LLC, offering a full range of farm property, liability and mortality coverages. Leading companies represented include Travelers, Great American and XL Insurance. During the past year, Reiss supported Florida Thoroughbred horsemen by actively lobbying for legislative support of the Florida Gaming PariMutuel Bill. He sent a 1052 signature petition list to House Speaker Larry Cretul and 22 House Representatives asking for a reduction in slot taxes and expanded gaming. Gordon did not register any Florida-breds in 2007 or 2008.
■ JESSICA STEINBRENNER (Kinsman Farm) Jessica Steinbrenner was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Tampa, Florida, where she currently resides with her husband, Felix, and her four children. Jessica is a graduate of Sweet Briar College, where she earned her degree in Sociology. While at Sweet Briar, she also studied creative writing and has written and published children’s books. In addition, Jessica was a member of Sweet Briar’s Varsity Equestrian Team. She is a General Partner of the New York Yankees. She is a strong supporter of the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the University Of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Presently, Jessica owns and operates Bach Stables and serves as the General Manager of Kinsman Farm. The 750-acre farm in Ocala is home to about 40 broodmares and currently has about 30 horses in the stable’s racing operation. Kinsman Hope, winner of the 1972 Remsen Stakes, was among the farm’s first Thoroughbreds. Kinsman Farm won the Alabama Stakes in 2005 with Sweet Symphony and the 2000 Ballerina Handicap with Dream Supreme, seven years after her dam, Spinning Round, won the same race. Dream Supreme’s third foal is Majestic Warrior, 2007 Hopeful Stakes winner and current stallion at Ashford Stud Farm. Kinsman has had six horses run in the Kentucky Derby (Steve’s Friend, Eternal Prince, Diligence, Concerto, Blue Burner and 2005 favorite Bellamy Road). Diligence and Concerto both retired to stud at Ocala farms. Kinsman registered five Florida-breds in 2007 and four in 2008. In 2009, they registered nine Florida-breds.■ COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
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the Best State for Business
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Signature
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STALLIONS
Chapel Royal (above) Bill Bazzell and William Schettine (below)
company’s various businesses include building gas pipelines and commercial real estate development. In the summer of 1998, Schettine took that fateful helicopter ride to check out a north-south gas pipeline route to Tarpon Springs, Florida. Always fascinated by horses, and particularly Thoroughbred racehorses, Schettine was intrigued by his view from above of Ocala’s many horse farms. “I didn’t grow up around horses, but for some unknown reason, I’ve always loved horses,” said Schettine. “And I’ve always thought the Thoroughbred is a spectacular athlete. I thought that one day I’d like to own a farm and some racehorses.” Prompted by the helicopter ride, Schettine decided that the time was right to pursue his dream. In true entrepreneurial spirit, he began to educate himself about the Thoroughbred industry. As part of that self-imposed curriculum, the first Thoroughbred public auction he at-
tended was the 1998 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October fall mixed sale and followed that with a visit to the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. And that’s where his Thoroughbred business education accelerated from observer to owner. The Keeneland sale included the Fares Dispersal and even a still-learning student like Schettine knew a good Thoroughbred business deal when he saw one. Some of the well-bred broodmares were too tempting for Schettine to pass up, so he didn’t. Among his purchases was the Rubiano mare Felicita in foal to Dehere for $42,000. Schettine then sold the resulting 1999 Dehere filly, through Bluewater Sales, agent, for $175,000 at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale. The filly, bred and sold by Schettine, was named Take Charge Lady. Raced by Select Stables and trained by Kenny McPeek, Take Charge Lady won eight graded stakes, was graded-stakes placed seven times and earned $2,480,377. Among her graded stakes victories were the 2002 Ashland Stakes (G1) and 2002-2003 Spinster Stakes (G1). At the 2004 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Take Charge Lady sold in foal to Seeking the Gold for $4.2 million.
32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO
EXPANDING INVOLVEMENT
By the time Take Charge Lady was sold as a broodmare, Schettine’s involvement in the Thoroughbred industry had grown to include stallions, broodmares, a racing stable and a stallion station. He had scored racing success, being represented by graded stakes winner Bachelor Blues and stakes winners Prince Alphie, Wage a Penny and So Much More. In 2003, Schettine established Signature Stallions just outside Ocala in nearby
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Quick Returns For Florida-bred Juveniles at Calder RACE
DATE VALUE
Frank Gomez Stakes . . . . . . . . . .7/11/2009 J J’s Dream Stakes-fillies . . . . . . . .7/11/2009 FSS Desert Vixen Division-fillies . . . .8/8/2009 FSS Dr. Fager Division . . . . . . . . . .8/8/2009 FSS Susan’s Girl Division-fillies . . .8/29/2009 FSS Affirmed Division . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Seacliff Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Lindsay Frolic Stakes . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Turf Dash Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Catcharisingstar Stakes . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Brave Raj Stakes-fillies . . . . . . . . .9/26/2009 Foolish Pleasure Stakes . . . . . . . .9/26/2009 FSS My Dear Girl Division-fillies . .10/17/2009 FSS In Reality Division . . . . . . . .10/17/2009 Cassidy Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10/17/2009 Birdonthewire Stakes . . . . . . . . .10/17/2009
DIST.
$100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs $100,000 FSS (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs 6 furlongs $100,000 FSS (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $150,000 FSS 7 furlongs $150,000 FSS 7 furlongs 1 mile $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile and 70 yds. $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile and 70 yds. $400,000 FSS 1 1/16 miles $400,000 FSS 1 1/16 miles 5 1/2 furlongs $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 1/2 furlongs $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund)
FLORIDA MILLION Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies . . . .11/14/2009 Jack Price Juvenile . . . . . . . . . .11/14/2009 Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf . .11/14/2009 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf .11/14/2009 Stakes Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Maiden Special Weight 2YO races - $32,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (including $5,000 FSS & $5,000 FOA)
$150,000 (including $75,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 7 furlongs 7 furlongs $150,000 (including $75,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 1/16 miles $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 1/16 miles $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $2,700,000 Buy a Florida-bred $1,280,000 $3,980,000
to take advantage of these opportunities.
For more information, contact the FTBOA at
(352) 629-2160
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Schettine purchased Florida-bred multiple graded stakes winner Chapel Royal in late October 2008. The son of leading Florida sire Montbrook was relocated from Kentucky-based Ashford Stud to Signature Stallions for the 2009 breeding season. Bred and sold by Ocala Stud, Chapel Royal was the $1.2 million sales topper at the 2003 OBS Calder February selected 2-yearolds in training sale. Chapel Royal won the Sanford Stakes (G2) and Flash Stakes (G3), was second in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Champagne Stakes (G1), and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Out of the winning Cutlass mare Cut Class Leanne, Chapel Royal retired with lifetime earnings of $495,571. Chapel Royal was ranked as the sixth-leading 2008 freshman sire in North America with progeny earnings of $1,111,801. He was the leading North American freshman sire by number of winners with 37. To date in 2009, Chapel Royal is represented by Florida-bred graded stakes winner Advice, stakes winners Cape Royale and Coronation Day, as well as by seven stakesplaced runners. “The response to Chapel Royal coming to stand in Ocala has been great,” said Bazzell. “He had a book of 115 mares in 2009 and we’re looking forward to the 2010 season.” After standing the past two seasons at Lexingtonbased Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Shakespeare will stand his first season at Signature
The office at Signature Stallions
SERITA HULT PHOTO
Reddick. The first stallions he stood included Floridabred graded stakes winners Straight Man and Texas Glitter, as well as stakes winner Unbridled Time. “I always wanted to be involved in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry. We breed, stand stallions, sell and race” said Schettine. “Diversification is good because success fluctuates from aspect to another in every business. Therefore, if you’re involved at every level, then the good times in one balance out the bad times in the other.” Signature Stallions is a stallion station in the purest sense of the term. At only 10 acres, there is no broodmare or training division. Schettine leases a portion of Good Chance Farm to board his Florida-based broodmares with his young horses being broken and trained by Nick and Jaqui de Meric. In addition to original members Straight Man and Unbridled Time, the Signature Stallion roster currently includes Bachelor Blues, Chapel Royal, Irish Road, Shakespeare and Western Pride. Bill Bazzell has served as the Signature farm manager for the past three years. “Mr. Schettine is very committed to the Florida breeding industry,” said Bazzell, who came to Signature Stallions after a seven-year stint at WinStar Farm. “His goal is to stand the best stallions we can for the Florida breeders. We felt like we already had a strong roster and adding stallions like Chapel Royal and Shakespeare only strengthened it even more.”
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Stallions in 2010. By Theatrical (Ire) out of Grade 1winner and stakes producer Lady Shirl, by That’s a Nice, Shakespeare raced for and is still owned by his breeder Dell Ridge Farm and Schettine. Shakespeare won four stakes in eight starts, including the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) and Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) in 2005, as well as the 2007 Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1). Racing exclusively on the turf, Shakespeare won $711,540. His first crop are foals of 2009. “The Shakespeare babies that I’ve seen are outstanding,” said Bazzell. “And now with the new synthetic surfaces, there is new interest in stallions who were excellent turf runners. Turf horses seem to do well on the synthetic surfaces, so we think it’s good timing to bring Shakespeare here to Florida.” STALWART STALLIONS
Florida-bred graded stakes winner Straight Man was the first stallion purchased by Schettine, standing his first year at stud in 2001 at what was then DunHill Stud. When Schettine bought DunHill Stud at the end of 2002, he renamed it Signature Stallions. By Saint Ballado out of Brilliant Melody, by Cornish Prince, Straight Man won the 2000 Winnercomm Handicap (G2). He was also second in the Malibu Stakes (G1) and third in the Derby Trial Stakes (G3) on his way to earning $333,304. Straight Man is the sire of 10 stakes winners to date,
including Florida-bred graded stakes winner Get Funky. Get Funky, an earner of $639,705, won the 2006 Del Mar Derby (G2) and 2007 Morvich Handicap (G3). In 2009, Straight Man is represented by stakes winners Brenda’s Slew and Dee’s Rose. “I’ve loved Straight Man from the moment I bought him,” said Schettine. “He’s been a good consistent top ten Florida sire every year and he’s a great value for Florida breeders.” The other remaining member of the original Signature Stallions is Unbridled Time, a stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed son of Unbridled’s Song out of the multiple stakes-producing Halo mare Haveaheavenlytime. Unbridled Time is the sire of stakes winner Unbridled Ambiance and seven stakes-placed runners. Western Pride and Irish Road are 2009 freshman sires with their first foals being juveniles. Florida-bred multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Western Pride is by Way West (FR) out of the Proud Birdie mare Strongerthanpride. Western Pride won the Ohio Derby (G2), San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2), Calder Derby (G3) and San Bernardino Handicap (G3). He was also graded stakes-placed three times, including the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Pimlico Special Handicap (G1). Western Pride retired with a career bankroll of $1,289,929. Irish Road, an earner of $128,910, is by Unbridled’s
Shakespeare to Stand at Signature Stallions Grade 1 winner earned $1.29 million before retiring By NICK FORTUNA In “Twelfth Night,” William Shakespeare famously wrote, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” Four centuries later, a stallion named Shakespeare who achieved greatness as a turf specialist is trying to give Florida breeders foals that are born great. Shakespeare, a Grade 1 winner who earned $1.29 million at the racetrack, will stand at William Schettine’s Signature Stallions in Reddick for the upcoming breeding season. Shakespeare began his stud career in 2008 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky., and stood this year for a $10,000 stud fee. Signature Stallions farm manager Bill Bazzell said the horse will stand for $10,000 during the upcoming breeding season, but breeders can take advantage of the farm’s multiple-mare discount program. “He was just a phenomenal racehorse,” Bazzell said. “He’s a great-looking horse, and with his first foals, I’ve not seen anything not to like about them. Every one of them seems exceptional, and we have six of them. We’re really happy to have him.” Shakespeare made his racing debut at age 3 in 2004 and won both
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Song out of the multiple stakes-winning Known Fact mare Twin Propeller. She is the granddam of Floridabred graded stakes- winning millionaire Smooth Air. Rounding out the Signature Stallions roster is Bachelor Blues, a graded stakes winner bred and raced by Schettine. By Smoke Glacken out of the El Prado (Ire) mare Wedding Day Blues, Bachelor Blues won the Summer Stakes (G2). He was also stakes-placed three
times, including a second in the Toronto Cup Handicap (G3) on his way to earning $353,019. Bachelor Blues’ first foals are yearlings of 2009.
Bill Bazzell
GOTTA HAVE BABIES
Schettine’s current broodmare band numbers 30 with the majority boarded on leased property at Good Chance Farm in Ocala and at Dell Ridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.
of his starts that year, including the $67,000 Caltech Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a race that covered nine furlongs on turf. The following year, he captured the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1), going 1½ miles on grass at Belmont Park and defeating 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner English Channel. He also won the Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) at nine furlongs on turf. Shakespeare sat out his 5-year-old season with a tendon injury but came back to win the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) on turf at age 6, defeating 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville. That would be his final start, however, as his injured tendon continued to give him problems. Shakespeare finished his career with seven wins in eight starts for Frank Justice’s Dell Ridge Farm. Shakespeare is the eighth-richest horse ever sired by Theatrical, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1987 and finished his career with $2.94 million in earnings. Theatrical won an Eclipse Award in 1987 as the top older male turf horse. Shakespeare is out of the That’s a Nice mare Lady Shirl. “North America really doesn’t have a lot of respect for turf sires, but the turf pedigrees have really proven themselves on the synthetics too, so people have to look at it that way too,” Bazzell said. “He’s got everything that people should be looking for in a sire. His race record and his looks speak for themselves.” ■
Shakespeare
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“Right now we have a relatively young broodmare band,” Florida-bred D’Funnybone in the Saratoga Special (G2) Signature said Schettine. “But I think it’s a good one. I like breeding and second to Necessary Evil in the Hollywood Juvenile STALLIONS nice babies and having them go on to do well at the race- Championship Stakes (G3). Trained by Biancone, the colt track. That’s the proving ground for your breeding program.” was also third to Classical Slew in the Willard L. Proctor Included in Schettine’s broodmare band are So Much Memorial Stakes and has to date earned $86,222. ConMore and Lake Alice, two stakes winners raced by him. In signed by All In Sales, agent, Zip Quik was a $320,000 addition, he also owns the unraced Red Ransom mare Com- purchase by Biancone, agent, at the 2009 OBS March jufort a Belle, the dam of stakes winners Lake Alice and Pla- venile sale. Despite not having yet made a start, a juvenile filly tel, as well as stakes-placed Vicar‘s Daughter. Also bred by Schettine, So Much More is by Chimes Band named Elarose may be Schettine’s sentimental favorite for out of the Slew o’Gold mare List O’Gold. Schettine bought two reasons. By Storm Cat, Elarose is out of Take Charge List O’Gold at that aforementioned 1998 Fares Dispersal, paying We offer everything we breed at public auction. If it doesn’t sell, we $15,000 for her while she was carrace it. I also buy horses to race too. That way we keep the racing stable rying So Much More. For Schet—William Schettine tine, So Much More won the active and bring in new blood for our breeding program.
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Treasure Chest Stakes and was stakes-placed 10 times. So Much More was third in the Gardenia Handicap (G3),Turfway Breeders’Cup Stakes (G3) and First Lady Handicap (G3), retiring with earnings of $381,516. So Much More’s 2007 Western Pride filly was sold by Signature Sales, agent, for $100,000 to Eddie Woods, agent, at the 2008 OBS August yearling sale. So Much More has a 2008 Unbridled Time colt and is in foal to Shakespeare. Bought privately and raced by Schettine, Lake Alice won the J J’sDream Stakes while finishing second in the Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (G2) and third in the Sunshine Millions Ocala Stud Oaks. The 2003 Mt. Livermore mare banked $173,799. LakeAlice has a 2008 Unbridled Time colt, a 2009 Shakespeare colt and is in foal to Shakespeare. Comfort a Belle, the dam of Lake Alice, has a 2007 Straight Man filly, a 2009 Shakespeare colt and is in foal to Shakespeare. While Schettine enjoys the breeding aspect of the Thoroughbred business, he also enjoys the racing end of it too. “We offer everything we breed at public auction,” said Schettine. “If it doesn’t sell, we race it. I also buy horses to race too. That way we keep the racing stable active and bring in new blood for our breeding program.” Schettine’s 20-horse racing stable is spread out among trainers Barclay Tagg, Gregory Sacco, Patrick Biancone and Kiaran McLaughlin. Schettine owns some horses solely and others in various partnerships. At the 2009 OBS April juvenile sale, Schettine paid $60,000 for a colt by Victory Gallop out of the Relaunch mare Rayelle. The colt was consigned by Harris Training Center, agent. Named Piscitelli, the colt was third to Dixie Band in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) on September 5 in but his third lifetime start. Trained by Sacco, Piscitelli has to date earned $46,570. Schettine races two-time graded stakes-placed juvenile Zip Quik in partnership with Flying Zee Stable, Kona Stable and Michael Imperio. Zip Quik was second to
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Lady. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale, Schettine purchased the filly for $800,000 through Northshore Bloodstock, agent. She is currently in training with Barclay Tagg. “Not only is Elarose out of Take Charge Lady, but I named her after my mother,” said Schettine. “I have high hopes for Elarose as a racehorse and a future broodmare. She definitely has the quality breeding and potential. And remember, quality is what it’s all about.” ■
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Florida-bred Rosebudʼs Ridge upset Sweetlalabye in the Susanʼs Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes series.
By NICK FORTUNA
hough he’s only 2 years old, Jackson Bend has already gotten a lesson in bearing the weight of high expectations. He was sent off as the favorite for the third time in his five-race career on Aug. 29 at Calder Race Course, and once again, he delivered, winning the $150,000 Affirmed Stakes by 1½ lengths. Jackson Bend has now won the first two legs of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, and with a victory in the final leg, he would become the second Florida-bred colt in as many years to sweep the series. Big Drama, bred and owned by Ocala’s Harold Queen, won all three legs last year. In the fillies’ division of the FSS, there will not be a sweep this year. Florida-bred Rosebud’s Ridge pulled of a shocker in the $150,000 Susan’s Girl, holding on for a
40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
neck-length victory over the favored Sweetlalabye, who had won the opening leg of the series. In the Affirmed, Jackson Bend and jockey Jeffrey Sanchez employed their usual strategy of running just off the pace before taking command down the stretch. He ran most of the seven-furlong race in third place behind the pacesetting Mr. Green, then rallied three-wide around the turn to engage the leader. Jackson Bend edged away from the field in the final half-furlong, stopping the clock in 1:25.19 for his fourth consecutive victory. “This horse is such a good horse to ride, not just because he wins, but because he gives you whatever you need every time,” Sanchez said. “He breaks well enough and shows you he has some speed, if that’s what you want him to do, or he just lets you put him in a stalking position or farther back, if necessary. When you ask him to go on, he explodes and then does what he has to to get the job done. I feel good about the way he will run going more distance.” Jackson Bend was bred by Fred Brei at Jacks or Better Farm, and the Reddick horseman still owns the colt. He also bred the horse’s freshman sire, Hear No Evil, who stands at Rising Hill Farm in Ocala. Since finishing second in his career debut at Calder in May, Jackson Bend is unbeaten in four starts, winning those races by a combined margin of five lengths. Last month, he won the $98,500 Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes by half a length over Florida-bred D’ Funnybone, who went on to dominate the Saratoga Special (G2). And on Aug. 8, Jackson Bend captured the first leg of the FSS, the $100,000 Dr. Fager division, by three-quarters of a length over Mr. Green. Jackson Bend has earned $237,820. “He’ll give you a cardiac attack sometimes the way he makes that big move up to the leader but then just inches away like he knows where the finish line is,” trainer Stan-
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Florida-breds Jackson Bend, Rosebud’s Ridge win second legs of Florida Stallion Stakes
Jackson JIM LISA PHOTOS
ley Gold said. “You always have to be concerned when a horse gets loose on the lead. In today’s race, we were concerned about Mr. Green in front, but you just have to rely on your rider to decide where to be.” Jackson Bend’s first two stakes races each covered six furlongs, and he went one furlong farther in the Affirmed. After the race, Gold said the colt likely won’t run again until the final leg of the FSS, the $400,000 In Reality division, which covers 11⁄16 miles at Calder on Oct. 17. The order of finish in the Affirmed was the same as in the Dr. Fager. Mr. Green, bred by Frank Perkins, is a son of the late Bridlewood Farm stallion ProudAccolade and was sold to Farnsworth Stables and Kramer Stables for $17,000 at OBS last August. Bim Bam, bred and owned by J D Farms, is a son of former Florida stallion Deputy Wild Cat. In the Susan’s Girl, Rosebud’s Ridge led a field of seven Florida-bred, juvenile fillies from gate to wire and had just enough left to hold off Sweetlalabye in the desperate final yards. With Cecilio Penalba aboard, Rosebud’s Ridge set quick fractions of 22.78 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 45.88 seconds for a half-mile and entered the top of the stretch with a 3½-length advantage. Sweetlalabye and jockey Manoel Cruz used their come-from-behind style to set up a hard-fought stretch duel. She rallied from fifth place early, lugged in along the rail and just missed as the winner finished the sevenfurlong race in 1:26.53. “I wasn’t exactly planning on being on the lead, but she was so sharp early on that I was actually fighting with her at first and decided to just let her run the way she wanted to,” Penalba said. “This filly is still learning how to run a race, and today was probably the best lesson she could get, win or lose. She gained something out of it. “She was tired at the end, of course, so when I got to the top of the stretch, I knew she only had a little bit left, so I
let her use it instead of letting it get wasted if we got caught halfway through the stretch. Fortunately, we hung on.” Rosebud’s Ridge, a daughter of Tiger Ridge, broke her maiden in her fourth try Aug. 8. Bred by Herman Wilensky and owned by Angel Quiroz, the filly has finished in the money in all five of her starts for $125,860. Sweetlalabye, who won the $100,000 Desert Vixen division of the FSS by three-quarters of a length, was bred and is owned by Jacqueline Tortora and Richard and Toni Ancona. The daughter of Ocala Stud Farm stallion Sweetsouthernsaint has two wins in four starts. Winsockie, bred by Ocala’s Marion Montanari, is a daughter of Trippi and has hit the board in both of her starts. The fillies’ division of the FSS concludes Oct. 17 with the $400,000 My Dear Girl, which covers 11⁄16 miles. ■
Florida-bred Jackson Bend earned his fourth consecutive victory in the Affirmed division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.
Final Legs Oct. 17
$400,000 In Reality Stakes $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes
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James and Ginny Gamble enjoy success with latest homebred stakes winner Gator Brew.
Winning Gambles By JO ANN GUIDRY
about seven miles apart from each other. They would later meet while both were attending ames and Ginny Gamble got so excited the University of Louisville. Prior to moving watching homebred Gator Brew win to Florida, the Gambles had Thoroughbred opCalder Race Course’s Lindsay Frolic erations in Indiana and Kentucky. In 1991, Stakes on August 29, they think they might they bought their 75-acre Oak Springs Farm have woken up a few grizzly bears. in Ocala and moved there when James GamThe Gambles, who established their Ocalable retired from his medical practice in 1993. based Oak Springs Farm in 1991, spend the Breeding to sell and race over the years, summers at their home near Kalispell, Monthe Gambles have gradually scaled down their tana. And that is definitely grizzly bear counoperation. Besides Doc’s Doll, the Gambles try. Not able to be at Calder for Gator Brew’s currently have only two other broodmares in race, the Gambles watched it in Montana on a Doc’s Honey and Lucky racing channel via satellite. Lady Lucy. And like Doc’s “We were cheering Gator Doll, they too have proven Brew on every stride of the to be prudent purchases. race,” said James Gamble, a The Gambles bought retired head, neck and throat Doc’s Honey for $6,000 at surgeon. “We were really the 2000 OBS August yelling there at the end since yearling sale. They raced it was so close and she won the Lite the Fuse out of by just a nose. I’m pretty Honolulu Honey, by sure we probably woke up a *Hawaii, mare and she few grizzly bears.” James and Ginny Gambleʼs Gator Brew (blue blinkers) wins the Lindsay Frolic Stakes. went on to earn $118,576. The excitement was well justified, considering it was but the sec- a mile and one-sixteenths. Doc’s Doll also Doc’s Honey has a 2008 Milwaukee Brew ond lifetime start for Gator Brew. By Mil- posted a second in the 2002 Joseph A. Gimma filly named Honey Brew, a 2009 Indian Ocean filly and is in foal to Roar of the Tiger. waukee Brew out of the stakes-winning Out Stakes at Belmont Park. At the 2003 OBS October fall mixed sale, Doc’s Doll’s first foal was Samantha G, a of Place mare Doc’s Doll, the 2-year-old filly broke her maiden and notched her first 2006 Macho Uno filly the Gambles named the Gambles bought Lucky Lady Lucy for stakes win with the Lindsay Frolic Stakes after their now deceased pet dog. To date, $4,000. The Salt Lake mare was in foal to tally. Two weeks prior, she had finished third Samantha G has earned $25,389 and with her Florida-bred graded stakes winner Prime to Big City Diva in a maiden special weight half-sister Gator Brew comprise the Gambles’ Timber. The Gambles sold the resultant Prime Timber filly for $30,000 to Clyde Rice at the race. Trained by Bill White, Gator Brew has two-horse racing stable trained by White. In 2008, Doc’s Doll produced an Ex- 2005 OBS August yearling sale. In the name to date banked $62,200. Gator Brew’s stakes win was particularly change Rate filly named Ginny G and she has of his Indian Prairie Ranch, agent, Rice sold gratifying for the Gambles, who also raced a 2009 Montbrook filly. The latter was a late the filly for $160,000 at the 2006 OBS April her dam Doc’s Doll and consider the Out of May foal so the Gambles passed on breeding juvenile sale to Hal J. Earnhardt. Named Prime Catch, the filly was third in the 2008 Doc’s Doll back. Place mare a member of the family. “We don’t like to breed mares late in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on her “We bought Doc’s Doll as a yearling and raced her,” said Gamble. “She was a season,” said Gamble. “We’re older now and way to career earnings of $120,316. Blacktype-producer Lucky Lady Lucy has stakes winner for us and now she’s already it’s easier to manage a smaller operation.” The Gambles, who have been married for a 2008 colt by Graeme Hall named Taz G and produced a stakes winner. She’s a part of our family and she’ll always have a home with us.” 53 years and in the Thoroughbred business for a 2009 Full Mandate filly. Lucky Lady Lucy Doc’s Doll was also quite a bargain. Gam- 30 years, grew up in small Kentucky towns is not in foal for 2010. ■ JIM LISA PHOTO
J
ble bought her for a mere $1,700 at the 2001 Keeneland October fall mixed sale. She was then entered in the 2002 Ocala Breeders’Sales Company’s June juvenile sale, but was listed as an ‘out.’And the Gambles ended up racing her themselves. Pardon the pun, but that definitely proved to be a winning gamble. In three seasons of racing, Doc’s Doll earned $207,985 on six wins, three seconds and two thirds. She won the 2004 Florida Breeders’ Distaff Stakes, equaling the Ocala Training Center’s track record of 1:44.20 for
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In an effort to help alleviate the problem of unwanted horses, Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital held a castration clinic on September 10th. This was a huge success with 27 horses being castrated. Don’t forget to check out our VETNOTES for September:
Flexural deformities in the forelimbs of foals, by Faith Hughes, DVM, Dipl. ACVS. These and previous VETNOTES can be found on our website: www.petersonsmith.com
Remember –
in addition to having an equine chiropractor available two days a month, we can also provide full service ambulatory equine dentistry – call for an appointment.
Congratulations
to Senior Partner and President, Dr. Philip Matthews, who has been nominated to the Board of Directors of the Florida Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association.
CONTINUING EDUCATION Our vets are attending the following symposiums/workshops:
•October 2-3, 2009: Purina Equine Veterinary Education Conference
•October 8-10, 2009: American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Symposium
•November 13, 2009: FVMA Ultrasound wet lab to be held at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital. Guest speaker: Dr. Virginia Reef, Director of Large Animal Cardiology and Diagnostic Ultrasonography, New Bolton Center
•November 13-15, 2009: Pelvis & Coxofemoral workshop – International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology
•December 4-8, 2009: American Association of Equine Practitioners annual convention
Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital A tradition of leadership and excellence in equine medicine 4747 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474 • 352 237 6151 www.petersonsmith.com
VETS ON SITE October 12-16, 2009 at OBS fall mixed sale October 17-18, 2009 Horse shows in the park, Gainesville
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Dr. Scott Palmer: UNIFORMITY, A PRESCRIPTION FOR REFORM
“The American Association of Equine Practitioners was founded 55 years ago by 11 racetrack veterinarians. The AAEP’s horse racing origins provide a unique understanding of the health and welfare needs of the racehorse. The AAEP has grown to nearly 10,000 veterinarians and veterinary students in 58 countries around the world. Our members work with all equine breeds and disciplines, and this diversity helps the AAEP provide resources and leadership for the benefit of the entire equine industry. As an organization, our mission is simple: to protect the health and welfare of the horse and to further the professional development of veterinarians around the world. Last December the AAEP released a white paper to provide a veterinary viewpoint to the Thoroughbred racing industry to address a wide range of issues that have become the focus of national attention in the wake of a series of high-profile injuries on the world stage of racing. This white paper focused on four areas of 44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
importance: societal issues that affect racing, the business model of racing, the veterinariantrainer-owner relationship, and medication. The problems of racing in America are far reaching and involve many factors beyond medication. However, there can be no question that we do have a medication problem. And transparency in the area of the veterinarian-trainer-owner relationship is of particular importance as we go forward.
On the subject of Salix, or furosemide: Most racehorses experience some degree of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging when they train and race at high speeds. Scientific studies, as you heard earlier, have conclusively proven that Salix is effective in reducing the severity and prevalence of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racing horses. Therefore, if you are going to race a horse that experiences exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage, it is in the best interest of the health and the welfare of that horse to treat with Salix. Our AAEP white paper takes a clear stand that no medication should be administered on race day except for Salix.
PHOTOS COURTESY AAEP
n late August, the Jockey Club hosted the 57th Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing in Saratoga Springs, NewYork. Topics included tattoo I.D. services, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Racing Surfaces and the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. But perhaps the liveliest talks related to medication and its use in the industry. Below is a transcript of an address given by Dr. Scott Palmer, chairman of the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s Racing Committee. Palmer’s remarks about the use of Salix juxtaposed with comments made by keynote speaker Louis Romanet, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Dr. Scott Palmer and Buddy
On the subject of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication: As you heard earlier, regulatory veterinarians have expressed concern that the administration of NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, within 24 hours of their pre-race examinations may compromise their ability to properly evaluate those horses for soundness. We recognize that a quality pre-race examination is one of our best tools for helping to prevent catastrophic injury. If testing of horses at the time of these examinations reveals therapeutic levels of the drugs, then we may need to move the administration of NSAIDs back to minimize that effect. However, in terms of medication’s impact upon the sport of racing, these two issues pale in comparison with the fact that our current medication policy is broken and is undermining the very credibility of our sport. Our medication policy should accomplish the following: First and foremost, it should protect the health and welfare of the horse. Secondly, it should ensure a level playing field and promote the integrity of racing. It should be uniform and it should inspire the trust of the public. Finally, it
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Our Industry? should operate efficiently and in accordance with the principles of due process. Instead, our current medication policy, however well-meaning, is compromised by its lack of uniform policy and financial support in multiple racing jurisdictions. It is a mockery of discipline and security. It is undermining the integrity of the sport and the public perception that racing authorities either have their heads in the sand or think that this problem is not significant enough to make a meaningful change. Change is often a very uncomfortable experience.And resistance to change is usually rooted in a perception that change equals loss, either in terms of power or money. In order to overcome resistance to change, effective leaders must provide a vision for the future that inspires us to make change, or the level of dissatisfaction with the status quo must reach a threshold to force change. In either or both cases, there needs to be a reasonable plan or “first steps” provided in order to show the way to the future. Right now we have a unique opportunity. We are faced with a choice. We can choose to support the status quo. And how is that working out for us? Or we can choose to create a medication policy that actually works to inspire confidence and integrity in our sport. We have all heard the cynics. They say that nothing will change. They say that uniformity of medication rules and a meaningful penalty structure that will stop the cheating will never happen. Individual racing jurisdictions pick and choose what model rules they want to enforce while regulators in some jurisdictions rush to claim the “high ground” and enact their own vision of medication reform.The cynics say we will never get it right. I respectfully disagree.
Consider the following first steps: The American Association of Equine Practitioner’s white paper on Thoroughbred racing has challenged the status quo by enthusiasti-
cally endorsing the uniform adoption of ARCI model rules for medication and a uniform, significant penalty structure that erases the concept that positive tests are simply a cost of doing business. The AAEP is now reviewing a “best practice” document for racetrack practitioners that sets a clear standard for medication practice at American racetracks. It supports veterinarians who are making good decisions on the backstretch for the welfare of the horse and the benefit of our sport. Veterinarians have taken a clear and unequivocal stance on the side of medication reform. In spite of our best efforts, we, as an industry, have failed to accomplish the goal of uniform medication policy among our 38 racing jurisdictions. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium has accomplished a great deal in moving us toward uniform medication policy since its inception in 2001. The recent anabolic steroid policy is a success that we should all celebrate. However, all politics is local and we need to work at the state level in order to make this goal a reality. Short of federal legislation, the best chance that we have to achieve a uniform medication policy in the United States is for our industry to get behind the adoption of an interstate racing compact. The Jockey Club and the Association of Racing Commissioners International have both endorsed creation of an interstate compact for racing. An interstate compact is a compact between states. It provides an opportunity to create uniform rules and standards, as well as a unified voice and authority. States will retain their sovereignty over all issues outside the contract. An interstate racing compact will encourage cooperative behavior without the cost or the bureaucracy of federal intervention. The time for extended diplomacy is over. The sport that we love is dying and we cannot
afford protracted delay. To the extent that medication reform can help save our industry, we must act now with deliberate speed and conviction. The Jockey Club, supported by owners, breeders, trainers and veterinarians, has the ability to encourage horsemen in all racing jurisdictions in the United States to work toward state adoption of a racing compact that will include uniform ARCI model rules and penalties. Participation in an interstate compact is a voluntary act by individual states. It will require each state racing commission to cede some authority to the interstate compact, but they will retain the ability to regulate the sport in their own jurisdiction. This is a very small price to pay for the benefits of a national uniform medication policy. I realize that there are a number of details to be worked out to make this goal a reality. There will be thorns among the rose bushes. But I ask you again, how is the status quo working out for us? Hasn’t the level of dissatisfaction become great enough to inspire decisive action? What more will it take to get us to take responsibility and be accountable for this needed reform? This is our moment. Now is our opportunity to choose to make landmark reform of our medication policy. The American Association of Equine Practitioners is here to help the Thoroughbred racing industry accomplish meaningful medication reform. We can provide the science. We can provide the professional leadership. The vision is clear: together we can create a medication policy that will help to lead our beloved industry into a bright new era. Here is the first step: as a united industry we must use the political tools at our disposal to create an interstate compact that will include a powerful uniform medication policy in the United States. Success is a choice. Ladies and gentlemen, what would you like to do?” THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 45
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On the Topic of Drugs Excerpt from Louis Romanet’s Keynote Address THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
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We asked him to check and we found out that just before doing his administration program he’s been feeding a horse with some drugs and he had not been cleaning his hands. So we were quite proud of having caught him at the end of the exercise. But this is very important and we do also some blind-testing with Hong Kong and with other countries and we would like to do it with you as much as we can. So, we were delighted to learn that, on June 18, 2009, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors decided to go to the right direction and approved new national laboratory standards for testing, the implementation of a laboratory accreditation program and new independent Equine Quality Assurance Program. These are the basic guidelines for implementing top-quality testing, which is absolutely needed for international
“Why do we need international harmonisation of medication control? We need it because it will provide, first, a level playing field across international boundaries — border-free racing as we say. A positive test in one country must be a positive test in another country. It will also provide an improvement in consistency of policies and public confidence in horseracing; and it will provide harmonisation of detection sensitivity and drug classification, thus any violations will be much more difficult to defend. International harmonization will also reduce inadvertent violaMedication is the most important tions, and facilitate the globalization of horseracing; and it will issue for the image of the Thoroughbred minimize bad publicity and emindustry around the world. barrassment resulting from medication violations at international races. I had to harmonization and to deal with the announcement to the JRA that implement efficient Deep Impact was positive because of a med- drug control policies. What is changing ication not properly administered to him by the Japanese vet prior to the race. It is a difficult in this world? For time for an executive; but it will also increase many years, the maconfidence in commingling, and the Breeders’ jority of countries have adopted a zero Cup example for us is very important. Where are we now? We have an interna- tolerance approach tional agreement, an Article Six on laboratory for all drugs...excluding threshold value subservices that specifies that the aim of signa- stances which have been agreed internationally. What is changing? We have a fundamental tory countries is that their laboratories should be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, according to change because over the past 30 years or so adthe requirements and guides set out in the vances in technology have resulted in over a one ILAC G7 document, accreditation is funda- million fold increase in drug screening sensitivity...So the increasing sensitivity of analytical mental as it was already said this morning. These labs must also take part in inter-lab- techniques allows more and more prohibited suboratory comparisons, like we do it between stances to be detected at very low levels; but this England, France and Ireland. One year, we sensitivity is absolutely necessary for the detechave an administration program done by the tion of potent drugs with no place in racing. We Irish vet and then it was blind testing from the go deeper and wider to find new drugs but for other labs. By the end, the English lab found some therapeutic substances this increase in the two substances, the Irish lab found two sub- sensitivity of analytical techniques allows for the stances, and we found three. Then we came control of exposure not associated to any effect... So what is the new philosophy? The new back to the Irish vet who made the admission. philosophy is that a zero tolerance approach He said, “It’s impossible, I only gave two.”
“
”
46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
for regulatory control for therapeutic substances is becoming a fading illusion — my father would have been very surprised to hear that declaration — and so the goal for the future integrity of racing is to develop ‘screening limits’ for therapeutic substances. The goal for the future integrity of racing is to develop ‘screening limits’ for therapeutic substances, based upon a rigorous analysis of their pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties.These screening limits will then provide the guide for international harmonization. Using this approach the nine member nations of the EHSLC have harmonized on the control of 14 therapeutic substances through the limitation of the sensitivity of screening procedures and the racing industry has been advised of detection times for these substances to allow veterinarians to apply good veterinary practice in their use.
Of course, you are the problem there because the use of diuretics such as Lasix in North America falsify all those screening limits and, because of their ditution effect, it imposes to declare any level of medication found and so to maintain zero tolerance. So getting rid of Lasix is a condition for implementing the new system. Through the IFHA Advisory Council, efforts are underway, to extend the harmonization on a wider international basis... In April 2009, the Advisory Council moved its annual meeting to Lexington to discuss this initiative for International Harmonization and to foster collaboration with the U.S.A. and important persons were there — Scot Waterman, Dan Fick and Denis Egan, the chairman of the EHSLC, were invited guests... Also in July...the IFHA andAdvisory Council in conjunction with the EHSLC organised an international meeting in Newmarket to discuss: “Threats, challenges and opportunities we face in policy, testing and subsequently administration relating to doping and medication control.” So we are progressing. A successful outcome to these negotiations will be harmonization for the control of specific therapeutic substances by a signifiContinued on page 49
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(ex•cel•lence) noun the fact or state of excelling; superiority; distinction; possessing good qualities in high degree. For the third consecutive year, The Florida Horse magazine was honored as the top equine regional publication in the industry by American Horse Publications. Judges’ comments included: “This magazine has so much to offer... the more formatted department pages provide a nice background and allow the feature stories to really shine...There’s a strong sense of pacing with the contents as readers weave from departments and then round out the book with regional news and an essay.”
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352.732.8858 The Florida Horse is the official publication of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Publisher: Richard Hancock Editor in chief: Michael Compton Business manager: Patrick Vinzant Advertising manager: Summer Best Art director: John Filer
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Continued from page 46 cant number of the major racing authorities throughout the world, including: Australia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, OSAF, Scandinavia, Southern Africa and, hopefully, U.S.A. WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
1. The IFHA Advisory Council on Prohibited Substances and Practices will propose International Screening Limits (ISLs) for essential medications based on current lab practices, knowledge of pharmacokinetics and drug effects, and risk considerations, like welfare of the horse and image of racing. 2. Individual authorities will review these ISLs and associated research data and sign on as signatories to specific ISLs on the list. The ISLs will provide the guide for harmonization. 3. Administration trials will be shared among signatories to establish unified detection times for the normal use of a range of therapeutics. 4. The Advisory Council will update and fine tune the list periodically, based on new research findings. But, as it was said earlier today, this will obviously induce a necessary review of your policies on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and corticosteroids which at present do make raceday inspections quite useless as they are performed under pain-killer drugs. The extensive studies performed within the EHSLC have demonstrated that harmonisation across international boundaries in this area is possible and already effective. We need to grasp the opportunity to build on this very sound foundation and expand this initiative on a wider international front. I am well known around the world for telling people very frankly what are my feelings on important racing matters. So after discussing the technical aspects, it is time for me to give you with great respect my personal views on the medication situation in North America. Every year, when I receive The Jockey Club Fact Book, I immediately look at the diagram of average annual starts per runner and I find out that the decline is still going further down. In 48 years, between 1960 and 2008, the figure has been going down...by more
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than 45%, from 11.31 to 6.2. I know well that some experts will give you additional explanations, like the concentration of horses in big stables or others, but I am absolutely convinced that the number one factor is medication. I have just one question for you. When do you intend to stop that deflation? Let’s look at the figures of the number of races in North America for 2008. Here are the global number of races – 55,000; the number of graded (stakes) – a little less than 1%; number of non-graded black type – about 3%; so it (total amount of black type races) is a total of about 4 (percent). We all know that, without medication, it would be quite an impossible task to fill 55,000 races in U.S.A. and Canada, run mainly on dirt tracks with an average field of more than 8 runners. In 2008, there were 2,182 black type races in North America, including 505 graded races representing less than 1% of the total number of races. The TOBA/American Graded Stakes Committee has adopted a drug testing protocol and makes races ineligible for grading if RCI model rules on medication and safety are not adopted. What IFHA is hoping is that you would start from there by continuing to progressively tighten up your medication rules, firstly for graded races and then for all other black type races, which are together representing the 4% of your races that select the breed. Evidently, as outlined before, the use of Lasix should ultimately be banned in these races. I have a dream, as chairman of the International Federation (of HorseracingAuthorities)… My dream is that by the end of my next term, which starts in October 2009 and finishes in October 2012, medication will be prohibited in all graded and black type races run in North and South America. YES, YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT!
...During the last three months, two great events were celebrated: The first happened 65 years ago when thousands of youngAmericans gave their life for the freedom of Europe, and the celebration in Nor-
Round Table Conference
On the Topic of Drugs mandy, where I live now, was very emotional. The second one happened 40 years ago when two Americans walked on the moon... These are two marvelous symbols of what the American people can achieve when they have decided to do it. Compared to such achievements, the medication issue may look insignificant, but, make no mistake, it is the most important issue for the image of the Thoroughbred industry around the world. You have already started the process very courageously with the impressive achievements of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. I want especially to acknowledge the significant changes in policies in your country since 2008 with the new RCI model rule on anabolic steroids and I have just read that the board of directors of the Breeders’ Cup has been expanding its drug ban policy for the 2009 races. But how can we still recognize as world champions horses who run under medication? What sport today would accept that situation? So to conclude, I would like to acknowledge that you have done more in the last 12 months than during the previous 25 years. So, if all the persons attending the Round Table Conference today come out of this room with the will to prohibit medication in all graded and black type races by the time of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup, I am absolutely convinced that your leadership will transform it into reality. You may eventually achieve it quicker and avoid the very negative media perception you are facing now. The International Federation (of Horseracing Authorities) will always be available to help you if you need it and when you want it and I would like to wish you good luck for the future of the American Thoroughbred industry which will be bright if you all together go in the right direction with a strong determination, which appeared to me today by listening to all the presentations. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 49
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The 2010 Florida Horse
Time to Act! Call in today to make sure your stallion is not left out!
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Stallion Register
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Visit www.ftboa.com TWO-PAGE FORMAT
Write up of stallionʼs accomplishments on the racetrack and at stud STALLION WRITE-UP
HALO’S IMAGE
1991 Dark Bay or Brown - Height 16.1 - Dosage Profile: 17-4-19-0-0; DI: 3.21; CD: +0.95 *Royal Charger *Turn-to *Source Sucree Hail to Reason Blue Swords Nothirdchance Galla Colors Halo (1969) *Pharamond II Cosmic Bomb Banish Fear Cosmah *Mahmoud Almahmoud Arbitrator Halo’s Image
Intentionally In Reality My Dear Girl Valid Appeal
FIVE-CROSS PEDIGREE
Moslem Chief Desert Trial Scotch Verdict Sugar’s Image (1981) *My Babu Crozier Miss Olympia Sugar Del My Request Best Answer Old Bess
RACE AND (STAKES) RECORD Age
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
Earnings
2 3 4 5 6
4 10 5 4 3 26
2 4(4) 2(1) 1(1) 0 9(6)
1 2(2) 0 2(2) 1 6(4)
0 3(3) 2(2) 0 0 5(5)
$23,260 311,271 66,500 126,360 22,500 $549,891
At 2, WON an allowance race at Calder Race Course (6 fur.), a maiden special weight race at Calder Race Course (6 fur.). At 3, WON Tropical Park H.-G3 at Calder Race Course (1 1/8 mi.), Calder Derby-L at Calder Race Course (1 1/8 mi.), Spectacular Bid Breeders’ Cup S.-L at Gulfstream Park (6 fur.), Manatee H. at Calder Race Course (1 1/16 mi.), 2nd Preview S.-L at Gulfstream Park (1 1/16 mi.), Thanksgiving Day H.-L at Calder Race Course (1 1/16 mi.), 3rd Florida Derby-G1 at Gulfstream Park (1 1/8 mi.), King’s Bishop S.-G2 at Saratoga (7 fur.), Screen King S.-L at Saratoga (6 fur.). At 4, WON Thanksgiving Day H.-L at Calder Race Course (1 1/16 mi.), an allowance race at Calder Race Course (ntr, 1 mi. 70 yds.), 3rd Tropical Park H.-G3 at Calder Race Course (1 1/8 mi.), Miami Beach Sprint H.-L at Calder Race Course (7 fur.). At 5, WON Broward H.-G3 at Gulfstream Park (1 1/16 mi.), 2nd Ben Ali S.-G3 at Keeneland (1 1/8 mi.), Creme Fraiche H.-G3 at Gulfstream Park (1 1/16 mi.).
IN THE STUD HALO’S IMAGE entered stud in 1998. Leading sire in Florida.
CROP ANALYSIS YR
FLS
99 00 01 02 03 04
52 45 54 66 61 43 321
$ CROP AVG EARNINGS PER RNR
RNRS WNRS
SWS
44 33 43 51 45 19 235
2 2,607,369 2 3,197,061 2 2,893,890 3 1,795,061 3 1,600,912 1 312,144 13 12,406,437
38 28 33 37 28 4 168
59,258 96,881 67,300 35,197 35,576 16,429 52,793
HALO’S IMAGE HAS SIRED SOUTHERN IMAGE (2000 c., dam by Dixieland Band). 6 wins in 8 starts, 2 to 4, $1,843,750, Santa Anita H.-G1, Pimlico Special H.-G1, Malibu S.-G1, etc. 2007 Fee: $7,500 Live Foal Payable when foal stands and nurses
SIR OSCAR (2001 c., Honor Grades). 7 wins, $567,500, Criterium S.-L, Florida Stallion/In Reality S.-LR, etc. HALO STEVEN (2003 c., Twining). 6 wins in 11 starts to 3, 2006, $337,819, British Columbia Derby-G3, etc. MIA’S REFLECTION (2003 f., Rexson’s Hope). 5 wins to 3, 2006, $228,547, Brave Raj Breeders’ Cup S.-L, etc. SOUTHERN CAL (2001 c., Caltech). 7 wins in 14 starts at 3 and 4, $201,290, Calder Turf Sprint H.-L, The Vid S., 3rd Miami Mile Breeders’ Cup H.-G3. DUTCHIE (2000 f., Morning Bob). 8 wins, 3 to 5, placed at 6, 2006, $190,875, Kissapotamus S., etc. HAL’S IMAGE (2002 c., Rexson’s Hope). 3 wins at 2 and 3, $178,791, Unbridled S.-L, American Dreamer S., etc. HALOS SAILING SAIN (2002 c., Rubiano). 4 wins at 3 and 4, 2006, $176,070, Formal Gold S., etc. PRETTY IMAGE (2004 f., Lost Code). 6 wins at 2, 2006, $126,700, Clasico Eduardo Cautino Insua-G1, etc. IOWA’S IMAGE (1999 f., Pass the Line). 4 wins to 5, $116,690, Anka Germania S., 2nd Aspidistra H.-L, etc. HOW’S YOUR HALO (2003 c., Little Current). 4 wins to 3, 2006, $101,550, Eillo S., 2nd Carterista H.-L, etc. TIME TO DIVORCE (2002 f., Storm Bird). 4 wins, 2 to 4, 2006, $97,838, La Fiesta H., 2nd Princess H., etc. LIBBY’S HALO (1999 f., War). 3 wins, $96,940, Polly’s Jet S., 2nd Julie Snellings S., 3rd Candy Eclair S. Halo’s Tiger (1999 c., Northern Prospect). 11 wins, 3 to 7, 2006, $377,728, 2nd Chuck Taliaferro Memorial S. Cooperation (2001 c., Tri Jet). 3 wins to 5, 2006, $266,081, 2nd Jack Daniel’s Hollywood Prevue S.-G3, etc. Poppy’s Image (2000 c., Marfa). 6 wins, 2 to 6, 2006, $197,125, 2nd Princeton S., 3rd Restoration S. Tricky Image (1999 c., Pleasant Colony). 12 wins, 3 to 7, 2006, $135,843, 3rd Topsider S. Pitanga (2002 f., Relaunch). 3 wins at 3, placed at 4, 2006, $125,340, 2nd Mia’s Hope S.-R, etc. Bob’s Image (1999 c., Darn That Alarm). Winner at 2 and 3, $114,435, 2nd Risen Star S.-G3. How About It (1999 f., Saratoga Six). 5 wins at 2 and 4, $112,365, 3rd Vivace S. Cope With an Image (1999 c., Copelan). 5 wins, 2 to 5, $109,010, 2nd Southwest S.-L. Halo Jamerica (2002 f., Goldwater). 6 wins, 2 to 4, 2006, $91,705, 3rd Lindsay Frolic S. Charming Image (2003 c., Katowice). 4 wins at 2 and 3, 2006, $77,185, 3rd Dover S.-L. Send Me an Angel (2003 f., Shadeed). Winner at 2 and 3, 2006, $59,595, 2nd Gene’s Big Sky S.
BRIDLEWOOD FARM Inquiries to: George G. Isaacs 8318 N.W. 90th Terrace, Ocala, Florida 34482 (352) 622-5319/FAX (352) 622-2069 e-mail: bridlewood@att.net website: www.bridlewoodfarm.com
FOUR-CROSS PEDIGREE
MALE LINE HALO’S IMAGE is by HALO, stakes winner of 9 races, 2 to 5, $259,553, United Nations H.-G1, Tidal H.-G2, etc. Leading sire twice, sire of 63 stakes winners, incl.-SUNDAY SILENCE. 9 wins in 14 starts to 4, $4,968,554, horse of the year, champion 3-year-old colt, Kentucky Derby-G1, etc. Leading sire 11 times in Japan. SUNNY’S HALO. 9 wins to 3, $1,247,791, champion 2year-old in Canada, Kentucky Derby-G1, etc. Sire. GLORIOUS SONG. 17 wins in 34 starts, 2 to 5, $1,004,534, horse of the year, champion older mare twice in Canada, champion older mare in U.S., Spinster S.-G1, Santa Margarita Invitational H.-G1, etc. Set ntr. DEVIL’S BAG. 8 wins in 9 starts at 2 and 3, $445,860, champion 2-year-old colt, Champagne S.-G1, etc. Sire. TILT MY HALO. 7 wins in 10 starts, $402,943, champion 3-year-old filly in Canada, Canadian Oaks-LR, etc. RAINBOW CONNECTION. 7 wins, $382,126, champion 2- and 3-year-old filly in Canada, Demoiselle S.-G2, etc. TOP HALO. 9 wins in Mexico, horse of the year, champion imported 3-year-old filly, champion handicap mare, Clasico Malintzin-G1, Handicap Presidencial-G1, etc.
Abbreviated race record and performance at stude of the sire of the advertised stallion SIRE FAMILY
FEMALE LINE 1st dam SUGAR'S IMAGE, by Valid Appeal. 18 wins, 2 to 6, $381,093, First Lady H., Poinciana H., Miami Beach S., Candy Eclair S., Miss Tropical H., Good Neighbor S., Lady in Waiting H., 2nd Vagrancy H.G3, etc. Sister to SUGAR'S APPEAL ($33,825), Half-sister to Sugar Too ($53,406). Dam of-HALO'S IMAGE. Subject stallion. Sugar Is Gold (f. by Slew o' Gold). Winner at 3, $5,770. Dam of SHOT OF GOLD (c. by Jolie's Halo, 21 wins, $515,033, Rushaway S.-L, Coca-Cola Sprint H., Minnesota HBPA Classic H., etc., sire). I Love Sugar (f. by Skip Trial). Placed at 3. Dam of Gran's Halo (c. by Jolie's Halo, 4 wins, $92,575, 2nd Cradle of Jockeys Invitational S., sire). Granddam of R LOYAL MAN (c. by More Than Ready, to 3, 2006, $148,713, Pasco S.-L, Inaugural S., 2nd Bashford Manor S.-G3, Eillo S., etc.). Broodmare Sire VALID APPEAL, 1972. Sire of 331 dams of 1793 foals, 1362 rnrs (76%), 1069 wnrs (60%), 366 2yo wnrs (20%), 1.61 AEI, 1.51 CI, 109 stakes winners. Property of: Arthur I. Appleton and Happy Alter Racing Stable Nominated to: Florida Thoroughbred Charities S., Florida Stallion S., Breeders’ Cup
A specially edited catalog-style pedigree of the female family of the advertised stallion FEMALE FAMILY
SINGLE-PAGE FORMAT
Published by
Entry deadline is October 15, 2009
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PHOTOS OF THE EXHIBIT BY BOB STONE
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A meticulously researched and designed, 2,400-square foot museum exhibit is traveling around the state and country, honoring Florida’s rich ranching culture. (above) This full-sized cracker cow looks real – because it is. Taxidermists preserved the entire animal for the museum exhibit. (above right) Photographs of Florida cowboys line the walls of the traveling exhibit. From top to bottom: A) (John Kral photo) B) Alto “Bud” Adams, Jr., is the patriarch of the Adams Ranch, which has properties in St. Lucie, Osceola, and Okeechobee Counties. He is known for establishing the Braford breed by crossing Brahman and Hereford cattle. (Photo by Carlton Ward, Jr.) C) Jose Carlos Martinez is a cowboy, rodeo champ and horse trainer originally from Pinar del Rio, Cuba. In Florida, he has worked for ranches in southwest MiamiDade County. (Bob Stone Photo) 52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
ong before the rise of Mickey Mouse, or the prominence of the Kennedy Space Center, or the popularization of any other well-known Florida icon, cattle ranching has been a mainstay and a steady force in the Sunshine State. Thanks to Spanish explorers who imported horses and cattle in the 16th century, ranching in North American began on Florida soil before any other state. The culture flourished among Spaniards, Seminoles, Crackers, and other Floridians. Today, the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. is located in Florida – spanning more than 300,000 acres across three southern counties, and the state’s cattle industry is among the top 15 in the nation. Ranching is an essential economic activity that preserves many aspects of the natural landscape, pro-
L
tects water resources, and maintains areas used by wildlife or for recreation. Yet few know about Florida’s unique ranching traditions, which have been adapted to the subtropical climate and influenced our distinctive history. A new exhibit created by the Florida Folklife program in the Department of State, Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition, tells the story of one of Florida’s oldest and most important industries. The exhibit traces cattle ranching from its early beginnings in Colonial Florida through present-day cattle ranching. Some of the topics included in the exhibit are Colonial Florida, Seminole cattle ranching, Cracker
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Five Centuries of Tradition cowboys, cow dogs, auctions, oral traditions, rodeos, and material culture. The exhibit includes artifacts, archival photos, artwork by cowboy artists, cowboy poetry, audio and video components, and images by guest photographers Jon Kral, Bob Montanaro, Jimmy Peters, and Carlton Ward, Jr. “It’s been quite a project,” said Bob Stone, outreach coordinator for the Florida Folklife program, co-curator of the exhibit, and longtime folklorist. “It’s large in size and very educational. Kids are excited when they come in and see the whole, stuffed Cracker cow. They wanted to pet it so much that, if we let them, it wouldn’t have any hair left on it.” The Florida Folklife Program in the Department of State, with the assistance of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, has documented cattle ranching traditions throughout Florida over the past two years. In partnership with Florida Cultural Resources, Inc.,
additional funding from the Florida Humanities Council, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, the Florida Cracker Cattle Association, Susan and Pete Clemons, Lalla Rook Tomkins, Iris Wall, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others made the exhibit and related programming possible. “We are very happy that the Florida Folklife Program has had the opportunity to work with the Museum of Florida
History and a number of other prestigious organizations to create this attractive and educational exhibit for the citizens of Florida to enjoy,” said Florida Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning. The exhibit opened at Tallahassee’s Museum of Florida History in March and extended through Aug. 9, 2009, before relocating to the Tampa Bay History Center Sept. 19-Dec. 19. ■ For more information, visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.
Traveling Exhibit Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition
• Sept. 19, 2009-Dec. 19, 2009 - Tampa Bay History Center (Tampa) • Jan. 18, 2010- July 24, 2010 - Western Folklife Center, Elko, NV, (on display during the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering)
• Sept. 3, 2010-Jan. 23, 2011 - Historical Museum of Southern Florida (Miami) • Feb. 2011 - May, 2011 - Florida Museum of Natural History (UF, Gainesville) (Exact dates to be determined)
When cowboys get away from the ranch, theyʼre still cowboys. Here, a Jim Petersʼ photo of a cowboy and bronc at a rodeo.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 53
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Scenes from the 10th annual
Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show
Sept. 17 Ocala, Florida
ELEANOR HANCOCK PHOTOS
1
2
3 4 5
6 7
54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
8 1) Bob Simon of Lakeland Nutrition Group, Sylvia Beauchamp of UF Animal Sciences, Jodi Crawley of Lakeland Nutrition Group, and Adam Burnsed of Alltech 2) Sarabeth and Randy Barthle of Barthle Bros. Ranch 3) Angie Bryant of Seminole Feed, and Jim Loebig of Red Sunset Farm 4) Florida Equine Publications 5) Jamie Cohen, Marion County Farm Outreach Coordinator, advises horse owners 6) Amanda Morgan and Karrah Dumais of the UF Block & Bridle Club 7) Susie Martin helps customers in the trade show. 8) Rachel Van Alstyne and Bill Sellers of Farm Credit of Florida
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18 9) Grace Tirado and Jan Massaro of Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital 10) Speaker Dr. Ray Kaplan, Louisiana State University 11) Linda Morehouse and Tom Pratt of Fort Dodge speak with trade show attendees 12) Christa Moody and Angie Bryant of Seminole Feed 13) Brenda McDuffee of The Sanctuary 14) Kip Boule of Intervet answers questions from horse owners 15) Sparr Building and Farm Supplyʼs Amy Hayward and Susie Martin 16) Representatives from Stirrups N Strides Therapeutic Riding Center 17) Speaker Dr. Jay Ferrell, University of Florida 18) Steven Mould gave outdoor demonstrations of the Equi-Vac pasture vacuum 19) Randy Barthle visits with representatives of the Florida Carriage Museum & Resort.
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To Stitch or Not toStitch Orlaith Cleary, MVB and Amanda M. House, DVM, DACVIM, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
orses are more susceptible to lacerations and wounds than many other animals. This is due partly to aspects of their disposition, interactions with their comrades and hazards in their environment. With apSutures or staples are a necessary treatment for some propriate observation wounds, depending on severity, type of wound and timing. and management, many wounds can be prevented or managed successfully the water supply. It may be necessary to separate a subordinate horse that is sustaining bites or kicks by with minimal cost and maximum cosmesis. a more dominant individual. PROBLEM PREVENTION Keep any path to the barn free of machinery or Small actions undertaken by responsible owners farm equipment. Culverts and gaps under siding on can prevent a lot of accidents and minimize injury to barns should be secured. The shed rows of the barn horses. If possible, locate pastures on flat or gently and the wash rack should be kept clear with secure
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56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
sloping land. Fill in any holes or deep tracks in the field that might appear secondary to flooding or natural drainage after rainfall. Walk your fence line frequently (daily if possible) and look for broken boards, loose nails, loose metal or wooden objects in the grass or at the edge of the field and any wear and tear to the water supply. Observe horses that are pastured together especially at feeding time or around
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footing, and horses should be well trained to these areas. A naïve horse should be handled frequently and gradually exposed to large objects or other animals such as unfamiliar horses, cattle, goats, dogs and cats. Check and secure stalls (especially the stall door) and provide appropriate comfortable bedding. Always use safety knots and easy release clasps for attachment to the halter. When a horse is familiar with their surroundings and other animals in the area, they are less likely to feel the urge to bolt. If hazardous objects or stimuli are removed from the environment; injury will be less frequent.
A
4-year-old filly ran into a guide wire; injury involved frontal sinus, eye, multiple fractures involving temporomandibular joint. A) Day two, after removal of all fracture fragments and left eye. Skin was sutured and a drain was placed. B) 5 ½ months later
When accidents occur, call your veterinarian as soon as possible and describe the wound or laceration. It is important to keep the horse in a clean, quiet and secure area until the veterinarian arrives. Leave the wound open if it is not actively bleeding or if it is an old wound, so as not to push contamination further into the tissues before it can be examined. Remove gross contamination (soil/discharge) if the horse is cooperative. Do not apply strong antiseptic soaps to open wounds. These wounds should be lavaged with a very dilute betadine or chlorhexidine solution and gently handled, if at all. Apply a compressive bandage if the wound is actively bleeding.
PHOTOS COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
PREPARE FOR THE WORST
TYPES OF WOUNDS
B
As a general guideline, simple, lacerations of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen and upper limbs (above the hocks and carpi) will heal very well, leading to a good cosmetic result (with or without sutures in some
cases). Lacerations below the carpus or hock need to be managed very carefully and can be predisposed to development of exuberant granulation tissue (proud flesh) if not properly managed.
Things to Consider ■ Location of wound ■ Size and depth of wound – i.e. puncture wound, partial thickness, open laceration? ■ How long has the wound been present? ■ How contaminated is the wound? ■ What vital structures lie close to the wound (tendons, bone, muscle, joint, tendon sheath, bursa, eye, sinuses)? Any deep wounds or lacerations around a tendon, joint, thorax abdomen or the eye should be evaluated immediately. ■ Is the wound deep enough to involve any vital structure? ■ Is the tissue distant from the wound swollen? ■ What color and consistency is the fluid coming from the wound- blood or clear fluid? ■ Is there an odor from the wound? ■ How is the horse behaving? Is the horse in obvious distress or demonstrating lameness, colic, neurological, or respiratory signs? ■ When did the horse last receive a tetanus toxoid vaccination? In general, horses that have not had a tetanus toxoid vaccination in the past 6 months should be boostered. 58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
Puncture wounds- Puncture wounds are not always immediately apparent. The horse will commonly present with swollen inflamed tissue around the site (cellulitis). Systemic anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, cold hosing and wrapping are basic treatments for mild cases. These wounds are generally not sutured. Infection with an anerobic or resistant bacteria can complicate treatment and can be very serious, if not life-threatening in some cases. Any deep puncture wound to the foot or tissue above tendons, joints or any other synovial structure can be very involved and difficult to manage. It is very important to have a veterinarian assess these wounds; aggressive surgical treatment might be required.
Partial skin thickness lacerations or rope burns- These are the most amenable to simple treatments. Clipping the hair and cleaning the wound thor-
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oughly, as well as applying antiseptic ointment and a bandage (if applicable) are usually successful treatments. Call a veterinarian immediately if the wound is not healing appropriately or if proud flesh (granulation tissue) is protruding above the skin edges.
Full thickness lacerations- These are usually successfully treated within the first 6-8 hours with skin sutures as long as no other structures are involved and there is minimal trauma and contamination. If longer than 6-8 hours has passed, the wound may need to be debrided to create fresh edges for successful suturing. Full thickness wounds associated with severe swelling of the limb may be sutured later when the infection resolves (delayed primary closure) or not at all (second intention healing). Full thickness lacerations that are already sealed with healthy granulation tissue may not be sutured. Very deep lacerations may have to be sutured in several layers.
Degloving woundsThese usually occur on the limbs and involve peeling of a large flap of skin from the underlying tissue. The blood supply to the flap of skin is not always intact. After cleaning the wound thoroughly, it is still a good idea to suture the flap of skin back to the parent tissue.The edge of the sutured tissue may pull apart or die later but in the meantime the skin will act as a band aid for the tissue below. There may also be a lot of tension on the sutures of these repairs. Immobilizing the area with use of special tension sutures and bandaging (+/splinting) can help with this. In some cases, bone exposed in the wound might die (from a sequestrum) and such a piece of bone might have to be removed.
Heel bulb lacerations- These can be easy to treat if the skin is not fully penetrated. If a full thickness laceration is present healing may be delayed due to increased movement of tissue in that region unless appropriate measures are taken, including cast application.
A 4-month-old filly with laceration over cranial thorax, involving muscle. A) Day one: At presentation – after cleaning the wound B) Day one: Suture and drain placement C) Day 25: Healed
B ture wounds or wounds inflicted by animal bites are not sutured. Some older lacerations are not sutured, and are left to heal by C themselves if not infected. All full thickness lacerations found within 6-8 hours can be sutured after thorough cleaning and evaluation of the wound as long as the skin edges can be apposed without excessive tension and the wound is healthy and clean. After the 6-8 hour “golden period,” your veterinarian may need to debride the wound before suturing it closed. If there is trauma or loss of blood supply to the skin margins, sutures may not be beneficial in holding the wound closed and may cause more damage to the tissue. Be aware that some sutured lacerations may dehisce (open) after several days. This is not a harmful event; it just means that alternative approaches will need to be taken to manage the wound.
TO SUTURE OR NOT TO SUTURE?
Your veterinarian is instrumental in the decision making on whether or not to suture a wound and will pick the suture size and pattern based on the characteristics of the laceration. Generally, partial thickness lacerations or burns do not need to be sutured. Punc-
TYPES OF SUTURE
Staples are sometimes used for simple, clean lacerations to hold the skin edges together. They can be easy to place but are difficult to remove and can leave a more noticeable scar than suture material alone.
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Equine Lacerations and Wound Care 4-year-old filly with laceration of left front with complete transaction of superficial digital flexor tendon and some trauma to the deep digital flexor tendon. A) Day one: At presentation B) Day one: After debridement and placement of tension sutures C) 5 months later
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The best type of suture to use for the skin is a colored, absorbable or non-absorbable monofilament suture. The advantage of absorbable suture is that it will disappear eventually if a suture is missed during removal. The use of colored suture minimizes the risk of leaving a suture in the skin later. The number of sutures placed in a laceration closure depends on the size and depth of the laceration. In some cases the laceration is not fully sutured to allow for drainage later. Drains are also placed temporarily in some wounds that are deep or where there is tissue loss below the skin. HEALING. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Healing of a sutured skin laceration that is clean with sharp, healthy edges should be within two weeks, although some more severe lacerations/wounds may take longer (weeks to months) based on certain characteristics or if they heal by second intention. Sutures can be removed between 10-14 days after placement, depending on how the wound is healing. Absorbable suture placed below the skin and not through the skin does not have to be removed. Some complicated wounds are debrided and sutured repeatedly to achieve the best cosmetic result. Suture removal from these wounds will vary slightly from the above depending on the condition that is being managed. YOUR VETERINARIAN’S ROLE
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Your veterinarian will be able to adequately restrain the horse, and then clean and suture the laceration. You will be informed as to how deep the laceration is and if any other structures are potentially involved (i.e. joint, bone, tendon, tendon sheath, bursa, thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity). Your veterinarian may be able to retrieve a foreign body from the wound or be able to inform you, through use of radiography or ultrasound in the field, that a foreign body is present or if underlying structures are involved. Anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and bandage material may be dispensed if needed. Your veterinarian will also be able to supervise the healing process and advise you during this time. He or she can recognize when it is time to refer and inform you when your horse will be able to return to work following healing.
B
C
WHEN DO I NEED AN EQUINE HOSPITAL?
A Ideally, your veterinarian will be responsible for making this decision. However, in the case that you can’t locate a veterinarian, the horse should be referred to a hospital if the laceration fits any of the criteria below.
Reasons for referral to a hospital include the following: ■ Joint, tendon sheath, bone, abdomen, thorax, sinus or eye involvement ■ A laceration that is severely contaminated and requires extensive debridement under general anesthesia ■ A deep laceration that requires complex closure and aftercare ■ Cellulitis (swelling) that cannot be managed or is not responding to treatment in the field. ■ Heel bulb lacerations that require suturing and a foot cast. ■ Presence of a foreign body (wood or metal) that cannot be recovered from the wound ■ Chronic non healing wounds that keep draining ■ Bad disposition (i.e. hind limb laceration of a fractious horse that is a danger to personnel) ■ Any signs that the horse is affected systemically, such as fever (temperature >100.5 F), abnormally high heart rate, colic, respiratory difficulty, abnormal mental status, pain, lameness, infection ■
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Florida International University’s DNA laboratory to join forces with law enforcement. By DENISE STEFFANUS ntil recently, crime investigation units and their supporting laboratories have had the ability to analyze and identify DNA from human victims only. So crimes against animals had to be solved the old-fashioned way—with plenty of leg work and countless hours of phone time. Now, a new field of forensics that focuses on animals is making law enforcement’s job easier. Crimes against animals are as cowardly as those against children, especially when they are perpetrated
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against animals that have been taught to trust humans. Most horses outweigh a human by 800 pounds of unfathomable muscle power. Yet, their gentle nature makes them as vulnerable as children. Since January, at least 17 horses in South Florida have been killed and butchered, presumably by fiends who sneaked into pastures and barns. South Florida law enforcement has a new ally in solving these crimes, as well as in recovering stolen or lost horses—the Forensic DNA Profiling Facility at Florida International University in Miami. Dee Mills, Ph.D., is the director of the facility and a horse owner. “My horses are DNA typed,” Mills said. “So if my horse were to come up missing, and they found either a carcass or blood on somebody’s pants or on a tool of some sort or in a truck, if they could get a DNA type off it, and if we already have the DNA type on our
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under the direction of Dr. Mills, will be a very valuable asset to us.”
Equine Care file, then we would be able to make a match. “In the case of a stolen horse,” she continued, “we can make a match and get the horse back to the owner. In a forensic case, if we match a particular horse to an evidence sample, then that gives the police department an investigative lead that they can then follow, and it helps them in their investigation and possibly can lead to an arrest.” Mills has been working in concert with Capt. Scott Andress, head of the Miami-Dade Police Department’sAgricultural Patrol, to hammer out an agreement that will allow law enforcement to take advantage of FIU’s DNA laboratory. “We’re currently working on procedures and protocols and a memorandum of understanding between the Miami-Dade Police Department and FIU,” Andress said. “We envision that once all that has been finalized, the FIU Forensic DNA Profiling Facility,
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DNA EVIDENCE
Most people are familiar with the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television franchise, along with other series that feature forensic investigation. Several times a week, viewers watch scientists gather DNA evidence, identify and type it, and then use that information to nab the bad guy or exonerate the innocent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation started using forensic DNA typing in casework in 1988. In the subsequent 20 years, this rapidly progressing science has been the greatest innovation since fingerprinting, and some in the justice system believe it is the gold standard— with a 99.5-percent accuracy—for solving crimes and missing persons cases. The new veterinary forensics field uses the same type of biological science and sources to provide DNA information that can help law enforcement in solving animal cases, Mills said. Examples of types of biological evidence that can be DNA typed are: blood,
semen, saliva, urine, hair, teeth, bone, and tissue. As in human cases, evidence is gathered under strict protocol by investigators and processed by accredited technicians to assure its integrity so it will hold up in a court of law. “If we were to submit samples from whatever location and they are sufficient samples, hadn’t been degraded, and are something that they can work with, [FIU’s facility] can do a DNA comparison on that,” Andress said. He explained how this would work in a typical horse-theft case. “When we’re putting together a case that involves the grand theft of a horse, and we get subsequent information, say, that a horse [has been spotted] matching the description of one that may have been taken in a theft,” he said, “and the owner of the horse has already had that animal DNA typed and cataloged at a DNA testing service, we can then go ahead and verify the ownership of that horse by doing DNA comparisons. In our discussion with Dr. Mills, we’re attempting to work this out so that the FIU Forensic DNA Profiling Facility would be the location where we would have that done.”
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Equine Care SLAUGHTER CRIMES
Other forms of identification, such as microchipping and hoof branding, are useless in linking perpetrators to the current crimes. But these criminals are in for a big surprise because investigators have DNA typed and logged the most recent equine victims. “If any meat does come up—say, if we go in and raid an illegal slaughter farm and we do find meat there, or … they find horsemeat in a person’s home, they’ll test the meat and see if they can link it to any of the slaughters,” said Richard Cuoto, lead investigator of these crimes for the South Florida Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Cuoto sits on the organization’s board of directors. “There are a lot of stolen horses around here,” he added. “Unfortunately, most of them are entering the black market horsemeat trade.” LOOSE HORSES
Andress added that solving crime is not the only purpose of DNA typing. He said that many horses go missing every year when they escape their enclosures and are found roaming miles from their homes. In Florida’s volatile hurricane season, loose horses are a primary concern, especially because the human residents often are forced to evacuate and leave their horses behind for days of hand-wringing anxiety, hoping the enclosure where they left them has remained secure and the horses will be there when they return home. In the future, DNA typing could help match up loose horses with their owners after a storm.
How to Obtain a DNA Hair Sample
The simplest way to gather a DNA sample for typing is to pull a hair sample with the root bulb attached. To obtain a hair sample, use a clean mane comb to isolate a pencil-diameter sample of hairs (approximately 50) from the mane at the base of the neck. Grasp the mane close to the neck and pull quickly so the roots are included in the sample. The hair sample must include the hair roots because the genetic material for testing is located in the bulb. For best results, obtain a sample while the mane is completely dry.—Denise Steffanus
He was found with ropes, a plastic garbage bag, a butcher knife, and other tools in his possession. Police officials do not know if this was an isolated incident or if others are involved, so they urge horsemen to remain vigilant in safeguarding their horses. Anyone who has information about these crimes should call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477. ■
For further information: Forensic DNA Profiling Facility Florida International University Miami, Florida Dee Mills, Ph.D., Director Phone: (305) 348-7410 • E-mail: Millsd@fiu.edu Website: www.ifri.fiu.edu/FDPF
DNA DATABASE
Mills, Andress, and Cuoto encourage all horsemen to have their horses DNA typed and cataloged into a database. The Forensics DNA Profiling Facility is building an extensive, nonhuman database that it hopes will become a centralized source for Florida law enforcement. FIU’s DNA typing service is $35, which is comparable to what most breed registries charge for the service. All horses DNA typed by FIU will be entered into its database. If the horse already has been DNA typed by its respective registry, owners can contact that registry and request that it provide DNA information to Mills, who will then include it in the FIU database at no charge. “If you do have your horse DNA typed, you should be putting signs up at the stable, in English and in Spanish, saying that the horses on these premises have been DNA typed, and DNA can be used in a court of law and criminal investigations,” Mills said. “Most people realize that DNA is a powerful investigative tool, and one that can lead to conviction. Anything that might give [criminals] pause and make them not come into your barn or your stable may be worth it.” On September 16, Miami-Dade police arrested a Mexican citizen, 18-year-old Luis Miguel Cordero, after he allegedly enlisted help to slaughter two horses and offered the horsemeat he expected to obtain for sale to a third party. The persons he approached contacted the Miami-Dade police and agreed to wear a wire and go along with the plan. Cordero was apprehended before he could perpetrate the crime.
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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
HowNot to Pull a Horseshoe Marion County livestock agent Mark Shuffitt
ecently, while at a rodeo one of the competitors asked me if I had any tools he could borrow to pull a shoe. Seems his horse had thrown a front shoe during his first event. The other front shoe was loose, but still had four clinched nails holding it on. There was no way that shoe was going to last the night. I told him I’d be glad to help and we could look in my trailer and see what I might have that we could use. His next event was approaching fast and he was anxious to get the shoe off so he could warm up his horse and get ready. As soon as I found that old rusty rasp, my friend took off to go to work on his horse and I looked for more tools. What I found in the trailer was a flat-bladed screwdriver and a pair of fence tool pliers. My plan was to straighten out (break) the clinches and use the fencing tool as a make-shift shoe puller.
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As soon as I found that old rusty rasp, my friend took off to go to work on his horse and I looked for more tools. What I found in the trailer was a flat-bladed screwdriver and a pair of fence tool pliers.
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By the time I found my friend, he had managed to rasp off the remaining clinches and was feverishly working to pull off the shoe with a small pair of wire pliers. Sometimes when clinches are rasped off (especially using an old, rusty rasp) a small hook is still holding just under the hoof wall making the shoe more difficult to pull particularly with improper tools. Time was really getting short now as the rodeo announcer had just called the contestants for the next event. The fence pliers weren’t much better than the wire pliers but they did provide some leverage and allowed me to grab two of the nails by the head and pull them out. With only two nails left holding the shoe, there was enough slack that I could get under the shoe and pry it off. Myfriendmadehisevent.Hegottothearenajust as the announcer was calling his name. On my way home that night, I thought about what I needed to put in my trailer so I could pull a shoe quickly and efficiently.
I needed to buy the following: Shoeing hammer Clinch cutter Creased nail puller Rasp The next time the need arises either at home or on the road, I’ll be ready. 1. First, use the clinch cutter and hammer to “break” the clinches. 2. Next, use the creased nail puller. Work the nail from heel to toe, as more of the shank is exposed, re-grab the nail close to the shoe and pull again. 3. Finally, use the rasp to smooth out any rough edges. ■
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INSIDE TRACK INTERNATIONAL LAMINITIS CONFERENCE
5th biennial conference scheduled for West Palm Beach. The International Laminitis Conference will be held on Nov. 6-8, 2009, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Founded in 2001 by John and Marianne Castle, and Dr. James Orsini, DVM, DACVS, this year’s conference brings together the world’s top veterinarians, farriers, and research doctors in a learning environment that furthers the fight against laminitis. Orsini is the Director of the ILC and the Laminitis Institute at Penn Vet. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the School of Dr. James Orsini Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and has been a leader in laminitis research. The ILC program is geared for equine veterinarians, farriers, owners, managers, trainers, breeders, and horse enthusiasts. The format includes scientific and practical tracks with topical sessions followed by small group workshops providing information that attendees can incorporate into their daily routines on returning home after the conference. “Pasture management is a topic that will also be covered this year during the workshops,” Orsini said. “Not just what the horse eats or what season they eat the different grasses, but also the time of day, and where in the world they graze, makes a difference in how the metabolites of the grasses’ carbohydrates leads to laminitis.” The ILC is especially pleased that the American Association of Equine Practitioners will be hosting a research workshop directly following this year’s conference. The best scientists will be on hand to present cutting-edge research and identify new areas that need to be investigated to complete the laminitis puzzle. To register for the ILC, visit www.laminitisconference.com. — By Rebecca Walton
HORSE STORIES WANTED
The Tampa, Fla., author of the “Beloved Horses series”, Sharon Miner, is searching for more horses to include in her fourth book of the series. The theme will be “horses in second careers” and will feature both famous and lesser-known horses. “So many wonderful horses have lived two lives,” Miner said. “Some start their younger years on the racetrack and later train as show horses. Or show horses become therapy mounts, cutting horses retire to trail riding and school horses end up as family pets. College equestrian programs and police mounted troops are always seeking and receiving horses who retired from a previous life. I’d love to share with horse lovers young and old stories about those special horses.” Miner’s horse books are illustrated collections of true short stories describing the unique bonds between horses and their riders.The third book of the series, “Beloved Sport Horses”, features a variety of equine athletes, including Belladonna ridden by Katie Prudent. Miner will be meeting horse owners while on her equestrian book tour, beginning Sept. 19 in Tampa. She will be stopping at independent book stores and tack shops along the way in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Connecticut. To submit a horse for consideration, contact her at sharonminer@yahoo.com with a brief description of the horse and its skills. FLORIDA YOUTH HOLDS NATIONAL OFFICE
Newsome High School junior Justin Marcello recently cut a path into politics when he ran for – and won – a national campaign for Secretary/Treasurer of the NationalYouth Cutting Horse Association. Marcello, who lives in Lithia, Fla., is an avid competitor on the cutJustin Marcello ting horse circuit, cur-
rently ranked second in the NCHA Senior Youth world standings. He is the son of Florida Horse Park Executive Director C.J. Marcello. BACK TO FLORIDA FOR HEATHER BLITZ
Renowned trainer to run new operation in Loxahatchee, Fla., this winter. International Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Heather Blitz will be relocating from Esbjerg, Denmark, this December, moving her training base to a new location in Loxahatchee. The popular rider has been based in Europe for the past three years Heather Blitz and is returning stateside to a new facility where she will operate a training business alongside her riding career. She will be based near White Fences. CAPITAL BOUND
Floridian Alissa Kinsey gears up for the 51st annual Washington International Horse Show. Alissa Kinsey of Ft. Myers is headed to the Washington International Horse Show with her Hanoverian mare, Grisset, after heading up the list of Adult Amateur Jumper riders on the Alissa Kinsey WIHS rankings. Kinsey rode Grisset to both the 2008 and 2009 Winter Equestrian Festival Adult Jumper Circuit Championship titles and this year was Adult Jumper Champion at Devon. The 51st WIHS takes place Oct. 20-25 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. “We’ve gotten top placements at two of the most prestigious outdoor horse shows in the nation, now we will tackle the best indoor show,” said Kinsey, who has a total of 8238 points ahead of Kenzie Donovan and Max, River Hills, Wis. (5073). Other Floridians on the Adult Amateur Jumper standings include Meghan Abbott with Undercover, of Palm Beach Gardens, and Tracy Scheriff riding Picon, of Wellington. Keep track of Kinsey and the WIHS at www.wihs.org. ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 65
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Making Strides here have been a number of exciting events held at the Florida Horse Park over the past month. On Sept. 19, the “Polo Beach Girls” rode along with roping, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, and Silent Auction and Fashion Show, with proceeds benefiting the America’s VetDogsVeteran’s K-9 Corp. The Stride Dressage show and the Cross Country Schooling were also great successes. Upcoming this month are a number of exciting events: The Florida Polo Club kicks off its 2009 Fall Season in October. They will offer a wide variety of on-site entertainment for supporters and spectators in addition to the exciting games. Activities may include live musical performances, arts and craft expositions, fine food and wine tasting opportunities and children’s activities. They are planning a match just about each Saturday starting at 4 p.m. Oct. 3-Dec. 5. Check the Florida Horse Park Web Site: www.FLHorsePark.com for complete up-to-date details.
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The Ocala Western Riders have scheduled an Obstacle Challenge and Fall Trail Ride and Costume Contest during the month of October. Again, please check the Florida Horse Park Web site for details. The inaugural Marion County Cricket for a Cause Match and Car Show will be held Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 24 at the Florida Horse Park. This event will benefit the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance for Education and Support, Inc. Come out enjoy a great time and support a wonderful cause. The Florida Greenways and Trails project to construct an equestrian underpass for Hwy 475 (east border of the horse park) and Hwy 475A (west border of the horse park) is moving forward. This planned construction has temporarily closed our north entrance on Hwy 475 and will re-route traffic from Hwy 475 onto the park property during construction; the Hwy 475A entrance will close completely, however, the temporary routing of traffic will be west of Hwy
475A. Once completed you will be able to ride, run or bicycle under these two highways to continue on the Greenway Trails. As always, we invite you to become a part of the Florida Horse Park. Visit our new office and see our site plan, explore the Greenway with Cactus Jack or hop on the web and check out our upcoming events. This is YOUR Florida Horse Park!
Happy trails, Connie Duff Wise Chairman of the Board www.flhorsepark.com
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Tourism Promotion Bill Passes Senate The American Horse Council is pleased the U.S. Senate passed last month the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (S.1023) introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND). This bill could benefit tourism involving the horse industry. “Equine tourism is a growing and diverse segment of the horse industry. Because it encompasses many parts of the industry including recreation, showing and racing its continued growth is beneficial to the entire horse industry,” Said AHC President Jay Hickey. “If equine tourism in the U.S. is to expand, it is important that we promote it abroad as well as at home. We believe this bill has the potential to increase the number of international visitors to the U.S. who participate in equestrian events and activities, either as participants or spectators.” The purpose of the bill is to market the U.S. as a tourist destination to people around the world. It would create a non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion, which would be responsible for correcting misperceptions regarding U.S entry policies, and providing useful information to foreign tourists and others interested in traveling to the United States. Notably, the bill requires the Corporation for Travel Promotion to “identify opportunities and strategies to promote tourism to rural and urban areas equally.” A travel promotion fund requiring non-federal matching funds would also be established. The bill would additionally authorize the creation of an Office of Travel Promotion in the Department of Commerce. This office would support and encourage the development of programs to increase the number of international visitors to the United States. Also it would collect data on the number of international visitors to each State and support State, regional, and private sector initiatives to promote travel to and within the United States. “Whether it’s a packing trip
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HORSE COUNCIL NEWS in the west, one of the outstanding horse shows throughout the country or one of our exciting races, this bill has the potential to help let those abroad know what the U.S. horse industry has to offer,” said Ben Pendergrass, AHC Legislative Director. “The House of Representatives passed similar legislation last year so we hope they will approve this bill quickly,” said Hickey.
Florida Horse Council Supports Horse Welfare Study In September, members of the U.S. Congress convened a Conference Committee to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. This Conference Committee will determine whether the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will study the status of horse welfare as it relates to the closing of horse slaughter plants in the United States. The American Horse Council and the Florida Horse Council support such a study. On Sept. 1, the Florida Horse Council wrote letters to Florida Congressman Allen Boyd to ask for his support of the study. Boyd is a conferee on the House Conference Committee.
■ Background On August 4, 2009, the Senate passed its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R.2997). This bill will provide funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2010. The Senate Appropriations Committee Report (No.11139) accompanying this legislation directs the GAO to study the status of horse welfare as it relates to the closing of horse slaughter facilities in the United States. The House passed its version of the USDA appropria-
tions bill on July 9, 2009. There is no provision in the House package seeking a GAO study. The House and Senate now have to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the bill through a conference committee that includes representatives of both the House and Senate. That committee is expected to begin meeting shortly after Labor Day to decide, among other things, if the GAO study will be part of the final appropriations bill.
GAO Study The GAO is an independent federal agency that Congress often turns to for reports and analysis of important issues. GAO evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other data to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. The AHC supports this GAO study. Currently, there is little hard data on this issue. Such a study could provide valuable information to the horse industry as it deals with the unwanted horse issue. The Senate legislation directs the GAO to study the following issues: How the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments; the implications these changes have had on farm income and trade; the extent to which horses in the United States are slaughtered for any purpose; any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations; how the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico; the manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and general conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The GAO report is to be issued March 1, 2010. THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 67
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Florida Horse Council – 10 Facts and Benefits 1. The Florida Horse Council’s primary goal is to protect the wellbeing of Florida’s 500,100 horses. 2. The Florida Horse Council comprises Florida’s horse breeders, owners, trainers, riders and enthusiasts. 3. The Florida Horse Council represents its members on a state level in Tallahassee and on a national level in Washington, D.C. through the American Horse Council. 4. The Florida Horse Council safeguards the $5.1 billion generated every year by Florida’s horse industry by creating a favorable business climate for this revenue to grow. 5. The Florida Horse Council gives a unified voice to the 440,000 Florida residents who participate in our horse industry. 6. The Florida Horse Council addresses issues such as growth management, taxes on feed and supplies, immigration, alternative therapy practices, equine health, environmental situations, and other concerns related to the state’s horse industry. 7. The Florida Horse Council is a not-for-profit, 501(c)5 trade association.
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FHC MEMBERSHIP
8. Florida Horse Council members have increased buying power. Members benefit from NTRA Purchasing, which includes discounts from Equine Travel Advantage, John Deere, Toshiba, Moxie, Sherwin Williams, Office Depot, UPS, Hallway Feeds and The Herald. 9. Members will receive The Florida Horse, which profiles interests and concerns of all breeds and disciplines, and provides information about events and issues at the state and national level for horse owners, trainers and breeders. 10. Florida Horse Council members will be updated via e-mail and via the Florida Horse Council Web site: www.floridahorsecouncil.org. The emails and Web site address updates on the legislative front, in addition to providing equine health news from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and news from the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Join the Florida Horse Council Today! For details on the Florida Horse Council, visit ww.floridahorsecouncil.org. To join, fill out the membership form below. The Florida Horse is the official publication of the Florida Horse Council. Receive a complimentary subscription to this all-breed, all-discipline publication when you join the Florida Horse Council.
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YES! I care about our industry and want to be a member of the Florida Horse Council. Full Member - $25 dues • • • •
Includes subscription to The Florida Horse Includes Membership Group Purchasing Discounts Includes voting via e-mail on Advisory Board Issues Receive electronic alert notices to keep you informed in the case of emergencies and legislative issues
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Please enclose check (payable to The Florida Horse Council) for $25.00 with application. Mail to the address above. Thank you!
With Half a Million Horses in Florida, there are Half a Million Reasons to Join the FHC!
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Following are the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship ” Point Standings through Sept. 17, 2009. Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Horse (Sire)
Breeder
Owner
Trainer
Backtalk (Smarty Jones) - 8 Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 8 Aikenite (Yes It’s True) - 5 D’ Funnybone (D’wildcat) - 5 Mr. Green (Proud Accolade) - 4
Clover Leaf Farms II, Inc. Jacks or Better Farm, Inc. Brylynn Farm, Inc. Harold J. Plumley Frank Perkins
Gold Mark Farm LLC Jacks or Better Farm, Inc. Dogwood Stable Paul P. Pompa Jr. Farnsworth Stables, LLC and Kramer Stables, LLC
Thomas M. Amoss Stanley I. Gold Todd A. Pletcher Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. Martin D. Wolfson
Harold J. Plumley Jacqueline Tortora & Toni & Richard Ancona Arthur I. Appleton Vegso Racing Stable Herman Wilensky
Robert Abrams, Ron Brewer, Mitch Dutko & Wesley A. Ward Jacqueline Tortora & Toni & Richard Ancona Klaravich Stables, Inc. Steven Michael Bell Angel Quiroz
Wesley A. Ward Emanuel Tortora Richard A. Violette, Jr. Wesley A. Ward Herman Wilensky
Gilbert G. Campbell L. M. Scace Glen Hill Farm Elbert & Opal Eileen Paul
Paul Pompa Jr., Jack Mandata & Michael Dubb Godolphin Racing LLC Glen Hill Farm Kramer Stables LLC
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. S. bin Suroor Thomas F. Proctor Martin D. Wolfson
Gail Gee Robert A. Murphy & Dr. Sandy L. Price-Murphy Cashel Stud, Inc.
Derby Daze Farm, Inc. & Mark Hoffman Lael Stables Frank Carl Calabrese
Donna L. Dupuy Barclay Tagg Danny L. Miller
Breeder
Owner
West Point Thoroughbreds Patricia A. Generazio Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer
Dallas Stewart Mary Hartmann Jerry Barton
David W. & Holly F. Wilson Ike & Dawn Thrash Martin Racing Stable LLC & Dan Morgan Lael Stables
Vladimir Cerin John W. Sadler W. Bret Calhoun Barclay Tagg
Two-Year-Old Filly Jealous Again (Trippi) - 7 Sweetlalabye (Sweetsouthernsaint) - 5 Worstcasescenario (Forbidden Apple) - 5 Aegean (Northern Afleet) - 3 Rosebud’s Ridge (Tiger Ridge) - 3
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding This Ones For Phil (Untuttable) – 12 Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace) - 10 No Inflation (Repriced) - 8 You Luckie Mann (Exchange Rate) - 8
Three-Year-Old Filly Hooh Why (Cloud Hopping) – 25 Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) – 8 Romacaca (Running Stag) - 6
Older Male (Four-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding) Macho Again (Macho Uno) - 40 Presious Passion (Royal Anthem) – 27 Big City Man (Northern Afleet) - 20
Milan Kosanovich Joseph & Helen Barbazon Four Horsemen’s Ranch
Trainer
Older Female (Four-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare) Briecat (Adcat) - 12 Dawn After Dawn (Successful Appeal) – 12 Dubai Majesty (Essence of Dubai) - 11 My Princess Jess (Stormy Atlantic) - 10
Ocala Oaks, Inc. & Don R. Graham Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds Harold J. Plumley Adena Springs
Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up, male and female, race distances one mile and less) Big City Man (Northern Afleet) - 20 Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) - 17 This Ones For Phil (Untuttable) – 12
Four Horsemen’s Ranch Mount Joy Stables, Inc. Gilbert G. Campbell
Prince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer Mount Joy Stables, Inc. Paul Pompa Jr., Jack Mandata & Michael Dubb
Jerry Barton Bennie F. Stutts, Jr. Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
Patricia A. Generazio Earle I. Mack Lael Stables Glen Hill Farm
Mary Hartmann John W. Sadler Barclay Tagg Thomas F. Proctor
Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up, male and female, races run on the turf) Presious Passion (Royal Anthem) – 25 Globetrotter (Street Cry) - 10 My Princess Jess (Stormy Atlantic) - 10 No Inflation (Repriced) - 8
Joseph & Helen Barbazon Live Oak Stud Adena Springs Glen Hill Farm
■ Selection Criteria for Florida-bred champions Year-end divisional champions will be determined using the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” point system, a ranking that awards points for success in stakes races. The “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” allocates points for stakes wins in graded races, open-company stakes and Florida’s signature racing days, with the number of points awarded based upon the classification of the race. International stakes race status is governed by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee. The first three finishers in all Group/Graded and listed races appearing in Part I of the International Cataloguing Standards and International Statistics Book printed by The Jockey Club receive “black-type” designation. The Florida-bred with the most points in each division on December 31 is deemed champion of that division. Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year and Breeder of the Year will be voted on by the FTBOA Board of Directors and announced at the FTBOA’s annual awards dinner. In the case of a year-end tie in points in any division, earnings will be used to decide the tiebreaker. Points are assigned as follows:
■ World Thoroughbred Championship Breeders’ Cup Race: Win: 20 points Place: 15 points Show: 10 points
■ Grade 1 Stakes Race: Win: 15 points Place: 10 points Show: 5 points
■ Grade 2 Stakes Race: Win: 5 points Place: 3 points Show: 2 points
■ Grade 3 Stakes Race: Win: 3 points Place: 2 points Show: 1 point
■ Sunshine Millions (equivalent to a Grade 2 Stakes Race): Win: 5 points Place: 3 points Show: 2 points
■ Other Florida-bred Signature Race Days (equivalent to a Grade 3 Stakes Race):
(The Florida Million, Florida Cup, Florida Stallion Stakes Series): Win: 3 points Place: 2 points Show: 1 point
■ Open-Company Stakes ($50,000 + Purse) Points for WIN ONLY: Win: 2 points THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009 69
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Leading Florida Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through September 16, 2009. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
MONTBROOK
GRAEME HALL
MILWAUKEE BREW
Name
Sire Name
Farm Name
NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's
Montbrook
Buckaroo
Ocala Stud
Earnings
Leading Earner
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Yrlg Avg
2yo Sold
2yo Avg
$2,851,376
137
65
6
9
0
$2,852,035
Big Drama
$358,500
13
$19,246
18
Milwaukee Brew Wild Again
Adena Springs South $2,767,845
127
67
5
8
1
$2,789,497
Milwaukee Appeal
$688,276
32
$14,363
17
$30,706
Graeme Hall
Dehere
Winding Oaks
129
77
2
3
0
$2,426,448
Duke of Mischief
$312,800
20
$30,370
5
$105,400
Put It Back
Honour and Glory Bridlewood
$2,110,162
150
76
9
11
4
$2,387,294
High Resolve
$187,000
5
$12,300
4
$19,500
Chapel Royal
Montbrook
Signature Stallions
$2,236,757
127
60
3
3
1
$2,311,484
Advice
$232,251
45
$30,646
11
$48,364
Alphabet Soup
Cozzene
Adena Springs South $2,245,126
168
76
2
2
0
$2,260,339
Sal the Barber
$109,380
19
$23,030
4
$28,750
Concerto
Chief's Crown
Ocala Stud
$1,844,886
101
47
2
3
1
$1,848,249
Finallymadeit
$365,375
5
$10,500
5
$29,200
Peace Rules
Jules
Vinery
$1,659,930
107
59
1
1
0
$1,724,551
Missunitednations
$79,151
22
$20,841
12
$30,625
$2,418,947
$36,650
D'wildcat
Forest Wildcat
VInery
$1,681,852
74
35
3
3
1
$1,682,432
D'wild Ride
$160,530
29
$45,362
23
$41,661
Double Honor
Gone West
Get Away Farm
$1,595,412
123
63
2
2
0
$1,619,095
All Night Labor
$107,488
8
$6,113
10
$9,940
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Leading Florida Juvenile Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through September 16, 2009. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
WILDCAT HEIR Name
Sire Name
Farm Name
PROUD ACCOLADE
D’WILDCAT NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's
Earnings
Leading Earner
Wildcat Heir
Forest Wildcat
Journeyman Stud
$499,671
38
18
0
0
0
$499,671
Always Wildcatin'
D'wildcat
Forest Wildcat
Vinery
$466,099
33
12
1
1
1
$466,679
D' Funnybone
Proud Accolade
Yes It's True
deceased
$436,561
25
13
0
0
0
$436,561
Peace Rules
Jules
Vinery
$410,164
32
16
1
1
0
$410,164
Hear No Evil
Carson City
Rising Hill
$291,517
6
3
1
3
0
$291,517
Jackson Bend
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Yrlg 2yo Avg Sold
2yo Avg
$57,189
52
$23,688
39
$39,115
$128,200
29
$45,362
23
$41,661
Mr. Green
$75,300
26
$13,381
14
$39,107
Izzy Rules
$42,250
22
$20,841
12
$30,625
$237,820
Chapel Royal
Montbrook
Signature Stallions
$273,358
26
5
0
0
0
$273,358
Dahlgren Chapel
$61,930
45
$30,646
11
$48,364
Milwaukee Brew
Wild Again
Adena Springs South
$262,583
20
9
1
1
0
$262,583
Gator Brew
$62,200
32
$14,363
17
$30,706
Sweetsouthernsaint Saint Ballado
Ocala Stud
$224,233
15
3
2
2
0
$224,233
Sweetlalabye
$119,200
12
$4,533
10
$25,450
Indian Ocean
Stormy Atlantic
Bridlewood
$216,905
22
8
1
1
0
$216,905
Winey Taylor
$45,600
22
$19,668
7
$17,857
Montbrook
Buckaroo
Ocala Stud
$190,119
19
6
0
0
0
$190,778
Miss Diane
$44,040
13
$19,246
18
$36,650
72 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
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An Important
Reminder n a lifetime spent at the races, the unmistakable sound that builds to deafening crescendo in recognition of the truly great horse echoes infrequently, as rare as greatness itself. by Paul Moran The roar lives in New York and until the afternoon of Sept. 5, 2009 had rested in dormancy since June 10, 1978, when unleashed in salute to the Florida-bred Affirmed as he fought off Alydar in the final drama of the last Triple Crown. It is a noise the description of which is beyond language, something enveloping that must be heard and one that until it erupted in the fading light of the final Saturday of the annual summer idyll at Saratoga Springs, was reserved for the 3-year-old capable of winning the Triple Crown. The timing could not possibly have been better; salve to many wounds applied generously by the awesomely talented 3-year-old filly embroiled in a historic battle in the last furlong of the Woodward Stakes. At the risk of unObservers had derstatement, this is seen something as dire a period for they would never the business of racing as it is for any entreforget and no preneurial enterprise matter the state of buffeted by the ill the economy of winds of recession. Economies ebb the industry, we and flow and with were reminded them the markets exactly why we do that contribute for this: Moments better or worse to the like this, rare, whole. Fortunes rise and fall. Bubbles inflate and burst. sweet and eternal. Racing’s recent fortune has mirrored economic strife that grips much of the planet. More than a year after the demise of the real-estate market, unprecedented government bailouts of wayward financial institutions and automobile manufacturers deemed too big to fail, the exposure of Bernard Madoff along with an assortment of less accomplished thieves and the dizzying decline of equity markets worldwide we are told that the worst is over, that the recovery will be slow and painful. Economic collapse ripples wide and spares no enterprise. Then, on a summer’s day in upstate New York there came a reminder – and not a subtle one – that takes us to HORSEPHOTOS/NTRA PHOTO
I
74 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2009
the reason that people do this. A filly who had won the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose Stakes and Haskell Invitational while making the distinct impression that she is one of those whose name will endure the ages was bearing down on the wire at Saratoga. She had dismissed all but two older males, both Grade 1 winners with talent and substance, who were in determined pursuit. On the way to this historic stage, she had not been truly tested but her rider, Calvin Borel, had drawn the whip, imploring her to fight on and she responded with unmistakable courage. The crowd at the Spa on its feet and ancient wooden building quivered beneath a deafening roar that seemed almost to provide Rachel Alexandra with a second wind. Bullsbay, the Whitney Stakes winner who was first to run at her in the stretch, was unable to sustain the rally and faded as the filly ran on. Almost immediately, Florida-bred Macho Again, winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap, mounted a final run that threatened the filly’s bid to make history in a prestigious race that had never been won by a female of any age. With the roar in full throat and soaring into the ether, his rally fell a neck short. “I never thought I had her,” jockey Robby Albarado said. “No matter what they throw at her, she’ll beat them.” It seemed as though the hallowed ground over which she raced shook beneath the noise, a sound never before heard by the oldest of summer residents at the Spa. The roar that enveloped Saratoga in the final yards of the Woodward subsided slowly, followed the filly beyond the wire, through the gallop out and awaited her return to the winner’s enclosure. Her arrival inspired another wave of sound in her honor that melted into an appreciative applause. An electric buzz followed the crowd into the streets that night and will be with each of those who bore witness to this Woodward for life. They had seen Rachel Alexandra look the “Graveyard of Champions” in the eye and run away. Breeders, trainers, owners, riders, grooms, hotwalkers, bettors and the most casual of observers took the same thing away from Saratoga that day. They had seen something they would never forget and no matter the state of the economy of the industry, we were reminded exactly why we do this: Moments like this, rare, sweet and eternal. ■
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