BloodHorse.com | Thoroughbred Horse Racing News

Ohio Ballot Vote on Racetrack VLTs Progresses

A November 2010 ballot question on racetrack video lottery terminals in Ohio moved a step closer to becoming reality Feb. 8.

Inside Track: Pollard's Visions

He may have been cocky and charismatic, but to Norah Pollard her father was even more than that: John "Red" Pollard was a superhero.

Edmund Gann, Raced Medaglia d'Oro, Dies

Edmund Gann, a leading California owner who campaigned dozens of stakes winners alone and in partnership, died Feb. 7 after a bout with cancer.

Kentuckyderby.com Web Site Launched

Churchill Downs has launched www.KentuckyDerby.com, the official Web site for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I)

California Breeder/Owner Ernest Auerbach Dies

Ernest Auerbach, who campaigned several California graded stakes winners, died Feb. 1 of pancreatic cancer at his Pacific Palisades, Calif. home.

Turfway Reverses, Reschedules Likely Exchange

After gathering a consensus from horsemen, Turfway Park has reversed a previous decision regarding the Likely Exchange Stakes and has rescheduled the $50,000 race for Feb. 13.

Jayaramans Remove 25 Horses From Ice Barn

Summer Bird, last year's champion 3-year-old male, is one of 25 horses being transferred from trainer Tim Ice by Drs. K.K. Jayaraman and Vilasini Jayaraman. Ice currently is based at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Southeast: Pleasant Passion

Helen and Joe Barbazon hit the heights with Presious Passion.

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Impending Storm Forces Several Cancelations

With another 10 to 20 inches of snow expected in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas by the evening of Feb. 9, the Maryland Jockey Club has cancelled live racing at Laurel Park for Feb. 10 and 11.

Southwest Regional: All in, In Oklahoma

A native of Tulsa, Carter spent his weekends on ranches in the Oklahoma panhandle region, doctoring cattle and working feed lots. He has known since age 10 that he wanted to pursue a career with animals.

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Bank Pushes for Oversight of Zayat Stables

Even though Zayat Stables has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Fifth Third Bank will continue its push to have a trustee named to oversee the operation.

Accelerated Vaccination Combats Horse Influenza Outbreaks

Equine influenza (the "flu") used to be considered a mere annoyance by many, but major outbreaks such as H1N1/swine flu in humans and the Australian equine influenza outbreak of 2007 have changed our thinking. These days, when a flu outbreak is reported, masks, hand sanitizers, and shots run out faster than bread and milk before a winter storm.

Woman Fined for Forging Horse Health Documents

A Boscobel, Wisc., woman has been fined for selling horses without testing them for disease and forging documents claiming the tests had been done, the state veterinarian's office said.

Voluntary CEM Surveillance Testing Announced

Stallion owners are asked to participate in a voluntary surveillance test effort for contagious equine metritis (CEM) in order to help animal health authorities collect accurate information on the presence (or absence) of the disease in the United States. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's veterinary services program has set a...

F-T Winter Mixed Sale's Gross, Average Rise

Median price holds steady during the auction, which was held Feb. 8 in Lexington.

Zarkava's First Foal Is a Filly

The Aga Khan's Zarkava, the unbeaten winner of the 2008 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) and that year's Cartier Horse of the Year, gave birth Feb. 6 to her first foal.

Dancing in Silks Named Dual Cal-Bred Champion

Dancing in Silks, winner of the 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), has been named California champion sprinter and older male by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Lavender Sky Brings $340,000 at Fasig-Tipton

Broodmare prospect is the highest-priced horse sold so far at the Kentucky winter mixed sale.

Five Questions: Paul Wagner

Documentary filmmaker is putting finishing touches on 'Thoroughbred' which will debut on KET March 8.

Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen: Feb. 8, 2010

With Winslow Homer off the Kentucky Derby trail, which new 3-year-old has entered the top twelve? Presented by Darby Dan Farm.

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NJ Lawmakers to Consider Sports Betting Bill

Legislation that would allow New Jersey racetracks and Atlantic City casinos to accept wagers on sporting events will go before an Assembly panel the week of Feb. 8.

Simms Joins Warrendale Sales Team

Hunter Simms recently joined Warrendale as bloodstock services and pedigree analyst.

Elusive City Colt Shatters Festival Record

Colt brings NZ$110,000 ($75,786 in U.S. funds) as New Zealand yearling sale ends.

Tanaka Gets Five-Year Sentence

Former Thoroughbred owner Gary Tanaka was sentenced to five years in prison for securities fraud while he helped run Amerindo Investment Advisors.

Equine Carpal Spavin Treatment

Carpal spavin is a degenerative form of osteoarthritis located at the junction of the medial splint bone (the inside part) and the second carpal (knee) joint. Not only does this result in crippling lameness, but quality of life issues often lead to euthanasia of affected horses. At the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, h...

Different West Nile Virus Genetic Lineage Evolving?

It's a variant of Murphy's Law: Anytime you think you have a handle on something, the unexpected happens and you're off balance again. The equine health world might be in this boat now concerning West Nile virus infection in horses. With several different types of vaccines available and in widespread use in the United States over the last seve...

Cup-Bound Richard's Kid All Heart in 'Antonio

Richard's Kid is Dubai-bound after winning the $150,000 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 7 in his first start for new owner Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Zabeel Racing International.

Bim Bam Lowers Boom in Hallandale Beach

Front-running Bim Bam surged late to upset odds-on choice Interactif by a nose in a terrific finish to the $125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes on the turf Feb. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

Turfway Adds Feb. 15 to Schedule

After losing the weekend of Feb. 6-7 to cold weather conditions, Turfway Park will add Presidents Day, Feb. 15, to its live racing schedule.

Santa Anita Trainers Adjust to Stakes Changes

Despite heavy rain that forced cancellation of Santa Anita's stakes-heavy card Feb. 6, horsemen are making whatever adjustments are necessary and are moving forward.

Eightyfiveinafifty Mending Well

Eightyfiveinafifty should be able to return to training in a week after receiving 14 stitches to repair a cut suffered during his premature departure from the racetrack during the running of the Feb. 6 Whirlaway

NZ Festival Sale Opens With a Record

Yearling brings NZ$90,000 ($62,000 in U.S. funds) at Karaka.

F-T Winter Mixed Sale Has Quality Stock

Sale company officials hopeful the market has stabilized after big downturns in 2009.

Star Guitar Adds to String at Delta Downs

Star Guitar chalked up his sixth win in a row when he cruised to a 3 1/2-length win in the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes Feb. 6 at Delta Downs.

Square Eddie Retired for Stud Duty

Grade I winner Square Eddie has been retired from racing and will stand at Vessels Station Farm near Bonsall, Calif.

Lengthy Purse Dispute Resolved in New Jersey

A battle over purse supplements for a New Jersey harness track that dates back to 2008 was resolved with the Feb. 6 announcement that purses at Freehold Raceway will increase by almost $5 million over the next year.

Weather Continues to Plague Racetracks

Turfway Park in Kentucky, Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia, and Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack in Pennsylvania canceled live racing for Feb. 7.

Early Triple Crown Nominations Total 366

Lookin At Lucky and She Be Wild, the champion 2-year-old male and female, respectively, of 2009, top the list of 366 early nominees to the 2010 Triple Crown races.

Court Vision Wins GP Turf Handicap After DQ

Take the Points crossed the wire first in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 6, but the 4-year-old colt was disqualified for interference, giving the win to odds-on choice Court Vision.

Rancing Bran Downs Win Willy in Essex

Front-running Racing Bran, thanks to a heady ride from Chris Emigh, ran away from odds-on choice Win Willy and the rest of the field in the $100,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park Feb. 6.

Suwannee River: Tottie at Home on U.S. Turf

Tottie, the 9-5 favorite, remained unbeaten in two starts since shipping to the U.S., as she stalked the pace and took over mid-stretch en route to a narrow win in the $125,000 Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream

Musket Man Fires in Super Stakes at Tampa Bay

Musket Man made a successful return in his first start since back-to-back third-place finishes in the first two legs of last year's Triple Crown, winning the Super Stakes by a half-length at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 6.

Quality Road Breaks Own Track Record in Donn

Quality Road broke his own nine-furlong track record that he set last year at Gulfstream Park, turning in a dazzling performance when crushing the field the field Feb. 6 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I).

Peppi Knows Wins Troubled Whirlaway Stakes

Odds-on favorite Eightyfiveinafifty blew the first turn and was pulled up by jockey Jorge Chavez, leaving the door open for Peppi Knows to win the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes Feb. 6 at Aqueduct.

Santa Anita Cancels Card; Stakes Rescheduled

Santa Anita canceled its Feb. 6 card due to heavy rains in Southern California. The wash out of the program impacts important prep races for both the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).

Rachel Alexandra in 4F Move at Fair Grounds

In her second work of the week, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra breezes four furlongs in :50 3/5 Feb. 6 in New Orleans.

Turfway Cancels Feb. 6 Card

Due to the continuing winter storm, Turfway Park has canceled live racing for Feb. 6. The program feature, the Likely Exchange Stakes, will be rescheduled at a later date.

Hefty Suspensions for 2 Philly Park Jockeys

Two jockeys at Philadelphia Park who were involved in a fight during a race last month have received hefty suspensions from track stewards.

Trainer Anderson Suspended Three Years

The Nebraska Racing Commission has suspended owner/trainer David C. Anderson for three years and fined him $4,000 as a result of positive tests for Class I drugs in two of his horses.

Current Joint Therapies in Equine Veterinary Practice

The results of a veterinarian survey on joint therapies were summarized by Dora Ferris, DVM, a staff veterinarian in Colorado State University's Orthopaedic Research Center, at the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nev. In a 2009 survey of veterinarians, of 831 respondents, 80% practice ex...