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Northeast/MidAtlantic Regional: Branching Out

Tom Ludt does not consider himself a visionary, but he does understand the horse racing industry very well

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Fravel: Enhancing the Cup Experience

Noting that it is a "world championship event and it ought to be at a world championship venue," Breeders' Cup president and CEO Craig Fravel said track enhancements will play a role in the selection of future sites.

KY Dates Requests Generate Discussion

The frustrations of those involved in Kentucky horse racing surfaced Oct. 11 when a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission committee considered requests for 2012 racing dates from the state's racetracks.

Western Aristocrat Wire-to-Wire in Jamaica H.

European shipper Western Aristocrat made a winning North American debut when he wired the field in the $250,000 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

Vinery New York Stallions to Sugar Maple

Vinery Ltd. announced Oct. 4 that its New York stallion operation will be based at Sugar Maple Farm near Poughquag, N.Y., for the 2012 breeding season.

Bluegrass Cat to New York for 2012

Top second-crop sire Bluegrass Cat will stand in New York in 2012.

Silver Train Could Be Pennsylvania Bound

A tentative offer has been made on Vinery's Silver Train. If the deal goes through, the stallion would be relocated to Pennsylvania.

Breeders' Cup Begins Drug Phase-Out in 2012

Breeders' Cup said it will prohibit use of race-day medication in World Championships races for 2-year-olds in 2012 and all events in 2013.

Breeders' Cup Launches New Marketing Campaign

The Breeders' Cup is launching a series of marketing activities highlighting the Classic, Classic contenders, and Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win And You're In" division races, Breeders' Cup announced July 6.

2012 Breeders' Cup Site Decision Due Soon

The host site for the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships could be announced before the end of June or in early July, with Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita the three finalists.

Fravel Named Breeders' Cup President, CEO

Del Mar president and general manager Craig Fravel has been named to succeed Greg Avioli as president and CEO of Breeders' Cup. His stint will begin July 18.

Breeders' Cup Won't Discuss Selection Process

A Breeders' Cup official said June 10 it's possible the selection process for a new president will be completed by June 14, but the organization wouldn't comment on the search process.

Vinery Acquires Kempton Bloodstock

Vinery has reached an agreement to acquire Steve Castagnola's Kempton Bloodstock, creating a new bloodstock division at the Lexington farm.

TRF Forms National Equine Vet Alliance

The Alliance consists of professionals who have agreed to provide pro bono veterinary care to Thoroughbred ex-racehorses from non-profit organizations that have been registered with, and approved by, the TRF.

V Foundation to Benefit from 2011 BC

The Breeders' Cup May 26 announced it has selected The V Foundation for Cancer Research as its primary, non-profit beneficiary for the 28th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs.

KY Breeders' Incentive Fund Changes Approved

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved comprehensive changes to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund.

New CEO at Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation announced May 10 that Rob Hinkle has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Ludt New BC Chair; Support for Medication Ban

The Breeders' Cup board of directors, with Tom Ludt as its new chairman, will form a sub-committee to develop a plan to eliminate use of race-day medication--Salix and other anti-bleeding drugs--in the World Championships

Breeders' Cup Approves Longer Terms

During a special meeting April 13, the Breeders' Cup members and trustees approved changes to the organization's by-laws, including longer terms for members and directors.

Velazquez Agrees to Pay $10,000 Fine

Jockey John Velazquez agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to settle the complaint filed against him in the Life At Ten case.

TRF Chairman Ludt Issues Statement

The chairman of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation issued a statement March 29, saying that the organization takes responsibility for retired horses that previously have been rejected by other organizations.

Search Firm to Assist Breeders' Cup Committee

The committee formed to seek a replacement for Breeders' Cup president and CEO Greg Avioli has engaged executive search firm Spencer Stuart to manage the process, the Breeders' Cup announced March 28.

Jockey Club Continues Support for TRF

The Jockey Club has pledged its continued support for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the country's largest equine retirement program that has come under scrutiny over the past week.

Vinery Season Auction to Benefit Japan Relief

Vinery New York has teamed with National Hudson Valley Golf Course to raise funds to help with the disaster in Japan.

TRF Leadership Defends Organization

Leadership of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on March 18 defended the organization from allegations of neglect among some horses under the care of the equine retirement program.

BC Board Forms Search Committee

Tom Ludt, a Breeders' Cup director, will chair the organization's search committee for a successor to president and CEO Greg Avioli.

Vinery Expands New York Operations

Howard and Susan Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York will beome a part of Vinery, according to an announcement made by Vinery president Tom Ludt.

Kentucky Panel Votes to Increase Mount Fees

Jockey mount fees will increase in Kentucky under a one-year agreement approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, but the decision wasn't unanimous.

Suave Heads to Vinery Florida

Suave will replace Congrats, another A.P. Indy son, who achieved great success in Florida and will stand 2011 season at Vinery Kentucky

MacKenzie Named Director of Sales at Vinery

Derek MacKenzie has been named director of public sales for Vinery, farm president Tom Ludt said Jan. 6.

Kentucky Tables Action on ADW Regulation

Advanced Deposit Wagering regulations that would be among the stiffest in the country were tabled during the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's meeting Dec. 13 after objections were raised by the president of Churchill Downs.

Purge to Vinery New York

Vinery, which has recently opened a breeding operation in New York, has added stallion Purge to its Empire State line-up.

Vinery to Expand into New York

Vinery Ltd. will be expanding its stallion operation in New York State in 2011. According to Vinery president Tom Ludt, Vinery will take over management of Empire Stud, which will become Vinery New York.

Congrats to Kentucky for 2011

Leading freshman sire Congrats will stand the 2011 breeding season at Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington.

Hogan Elected to TRF Board of Directors

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation announced Nov. 8 the unanimous election of Dr. Patricia Hogan to its board of directors.

KY 2011 Racing Dates: Maintaining Status Quo

After two years of major cutbacks in live racing, Kentucky's Thoroughbred racetracks are hoping for some stability and are maintaining the status quo in their requests for 2011 dates.

Jockey Derby Advertising Again at Issue

The annual controversy over advertising on jockeys' pants at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) resurfaced May 11 during two meetings of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Awesome Act Lame Following Derby Run

Son of Awesome Again is getting a break from training and competition and will undergo a nuclear scintigraphy scan.

Awesome Act Works in :48 1/5 in the Slop

Awesome Act worked in :48 1/5 and galloped out in 1:00 2/5 on April 27. Jockey Julien Leparoux was in the irons.

Awesome Act Works Six Furlongs at Churchill

In his first work at Churchill Downs, Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Awesome Act breezed six furlongs in 1:12.60 under Julien Leparoux, the fastest of four works at the distance April 20.

Awesome Act Part of Interesting Gotham Field

English shipper Awesome Act, a fast-closing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. II), may be the wild card in a diverse field of 10 3-year-olds in the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) March 6 at Aqueduct.

Vinery Launches Fantasy Stable Game

Tom Simon, owner of Vinery Farms near Lexington and Summerfield, Fla., hopes to reward Thoroughbred racing's current fans as well as attract new horse players through a fantasy stable game entitled "DerbyDreamer.com."

Vinery Entering Juvenile Market

Will offer clients' horses at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale.

Distorted Humor Filly Sells For $350,000

A 3-year-old Distorted Humor filly named Age of Humor was bought for $350,000 by Steve Davidson and Randy Gullatt's Versailles, Ky.-based Twin Creeks Farm at the Jan. 12 session of the Keeneland January sale.

Kodiak Kowboy KO's Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile

Ridden patiently by Shaun Bridgmohan, Kodiak Kowboy swept past Bribon and Vineyard Haven in deep stretch to win the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

Are Tracks Responsible for Non-Merged Wagers?

Aside from the issue of when to close betting pools, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is debating a recommendation that racetracks made good on winning wagers that aren't merged into pools.

KY Delays Action on Stop-Bet Recommendation

A controversial recommendation to halt wagering at zero minutes to post time at all racetracks was shelved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Oct. 27 pending a public meeting at which the issue will be further vetted.

Gasper Is Vinery's New General Manager

John Gasper has been named general manager of Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery and will oversee day-to-day operations.

Stud Fee Set for Pioneerof the Nile

Multiple grade I-winning millionaire and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) second-place finisher Pioneerof the Nile will stand for $20,000 when he enters stud at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington in 2010.

Friesan Fire on the Comeback Trail

Vinery Stables' and Fox Hill Farm's Friesan Fire, who was diagnosed with a pair of leg injuries after the Preakness (gr. I), is back in training and targeting a comeback later this fall. Who his trainer will be, however, is unclear at this time.