Articles posted June 15, 2009

Friesan Fire, Old Fashioned Recuperating

• By Dan Liebman
• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Racing

Friesan Fire, the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is recuperating from surgery at Vinery near Lexington.

Florida: Crist moves bill to Seminoles' court

• By Jim Freer
• June 15, 2009

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a gaming bill June 15 that contains several changes sought by the state's Thoroughbred industry and some changes in the operations of the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casinos.

Quality Road Sent to Pletcher

• By Steve Haskin
• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Racing

Quality Road, winner of this year's Florida Derby (gr. I) and Fountain of Youth (gr. II), has been transferred from Jimmy Jerkens' barn to Todd Pletcher by owner and breeder Edward P. Evans, who also took five other horses away from Jerkens.

KEEP Poll: 61% in Favor of VLTs at Tracks

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 15, 2009
• Kentucky

As a special session of the Kentucky legislature convened to consider several issues, including legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks, the Kentucky Equine Education Project released results of a poll showing 61% of registered voters favored alternative gaming at tracks.

Joey Franco Sires First Winner

• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Breeding, Kentucky

Grade I winner Joey Franco came up with his first winner when his daughter Warm Hands won June 14 at Golden Gate Fields.

Moose on the Loose at Saratoga Race Course

• June 15, 2009
• Northeast Region

Saratoga Race Course employees arrived at work Monday morning to find a cow moose wandering on the sidewalk outside track property, New York Racing Association officials said.

Cause Ur Mine Sires First Winner

• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Breeding, West Region

Cause Ur Mine came up with his first winner from his first starter when his son Our Minesweeper won June 13 at Golden Gate Fields in his initial start.

Maryland Trainer James W. Murphy Dies

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Racing, Northeast Region

Trainer James W. "Jimmy" Murphy, a stalwart on the Maryland racing circuit, died June 13 at age 82.

Rachel Alexandra Works Under Lights

• June 15, 2009
• Triple Crown

Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra was among the horses working at Churchill Downs on the morning of June 15 as horses trained under lights for the first time in the track's 135-year history.

Kitten's Joy's First Winner

• June 15, 2009
• Thoroughbred Breeding, Kentucky

Grass champion Kitten's Joy sired his first winner when his daughter Maddie's Odyssey won June 14 at Presque Isle Downs.

Researchers Examine Oral Acetate for Equine Exercise Recovery

• By Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
• June 15, 2009
• Horse Health

An inaugural study has found that a sodium acetate electrolyte solution given orally with a typical hay and grain meal following exercise enhanced skeletal muscle metabolism to restore depleted glycogen (energy) sources.

"Glycogen stored in muscle is the primary energy source for horses undergoing either short-term, high intensity or p...

Former Trainer Guides New Racehorse Transition Program

• By Esther Marr
• June 15, 2009
• Horse Health

Barbara Luna has spent most of her life working in various aspects of the Thoroughbred industry, from hot walking horses as a college student, to becoming a licensed owner and trainer later on down the road. Throughout her endeavors she discovered that even greater than her love of campaigning runners was the passion that came from helping retired race...

Positive Response to Arlington Polytrack Upgrade

• By Edited Press Release
• June 15, 2009
• Horse Health

State-of-the-art track maintenance equipment in use for less than two weeks on Arlington's Polytrack course has already led to positive feedback from local horsemen.

"I haven't heard any criticism at all," said Tony Petrillo, Arlington's vice president of facilities and operations. "So far, everyone seems to like it. Christine Janks told me that w...

Colic Alarm Presented at Equine Science Society Meeting

• By Kathryn Watts, BS
• June 15, 2009
• Horse Health

Developed by a team at Utah State University, a proposed equine distress monitor system combines a tilt sensor, accelerometer, and wireless technology interfaced with a computer in order to alert horse owners to animals in distress. The team has filed a provisional patent and is seeking a manufacturer.

Rebecca Lewis, BT, presented results of ...