Members of a Congressional subcommittee looking into practices of the horse racing and breeding industries began a hearing June 19 with warnings that they need to get their house in order to ward off government involvement.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A committee of the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council is continuing to gather information on anabolic steroids and is not yet ready to make a recommendation to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Exposure to lead from saddle weights and to residue from synthetic surfaces were among several concerns raised on a new topic page about jockeys' safety posted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on their Web site, the Department of Health and Human Services division reported Oct. 29.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Oct. 29 approved changes in its rules and regulations to prohibit the administration of cobra venom in Standardbreds.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Legislators introduced horse slaughter prevention bills simultaneously Jan. 17 in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate in an effort to increase public awareness. Last year the bill was passed in the House with a 263 to 146 vote, but the Senate adjourned before members were able to vote on the bill.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Several horse industry groups took a strong stand against legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday that would divert revenue from simulcasting to state racing commissions to fund accident insurance for jockeys, exercise riders, and other racetrack workers.
Friday, September 22, 2006
A bill to end horse slaughter for human consumption passed the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 7 with a final vote of 263-146. Two amendments to alter the bill both failed to pass.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
A national public opinion survey found that 69% of Americans are against killing horses for human consumption. The findings come just a week before the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill that would end horse slaughter for human consumption.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Two versions of a bill to end horse slaughter for human consumption in the United States have been sent to the U.S. House Rules Committee and will be considered at the beginning of September.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
A legislative hearing Tuesday by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection concerning the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act drew a large crowd, causing the hearing to be moved after opening remarks.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Jockeys took back the reins of the Jockeys' Guild Tuesday when they voted to remove Guild president Dr. Wayne Gertmenian from his post, terminate the Guild's relationship with Gertmenian's consulting firm, Matrix Capital Associates, and appoint Guild national member representative Darrell Haire as temporary national manager of the organization.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Churchill Downs Inc. president and chief executive officer Tom Meeker said that in the weeks since Hurricane Katrina devastated CDI-owned Fair Grounds in New Orleans, the company has been working with federal, state, and local governments on a reinvestment plan that could include revamping the historic racetrack into a tourist destination.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
In addition to race-day security barns, a special security team is in full swing patrolling the Belmont Park barn area in the days leading up to the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
For the first time in Breeders' Cup history, horses entered in all championship races will be required to pass through a race-day detention barn, keeping in step with security measures set up by the New York Racing Association earlier this year.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
In the two months since common pool pari-mutuel wagering with Canada was first introduced at Emerald Downs and Arlington Park, both tracks have seen significant increases in handle from Canada.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
A governor-appointed panel to study and resolve jockey insurance issues in Kentucky met for the first time June 27 to begin work on a statewide workers' compensation recommendation for lawmakers.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Turfway Park president Bob Elliston said he expects the Kentucky racetrack's new Polytrack surface to be ready for horses to train on by mid-August, when trainers are expected to begin arriving for the fall meet that begins Sept. 7.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club debated the pros and cons of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund June 7 and plans to have its recommendations ready for review by July 1.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
The Jockeys' Guild has provided documentation requested by a United States Congressional subcommittee regarding Guild management, finances, and actions related to health insurance policies for its members.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The Jockeys' Guild has responded to a request by a United States Congressional subcommittee related to its management, accounting and oversight of funds, but the information produced by the California-based Guild won't be available until the week of May 10.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Two of the five horses trainer Nick Zito is pointing toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) worked Thursday morning and the conditioner was pleased with how both 3-year-olds did.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Turfway Park will be the first racetrack in North America to install a Polytrack surface on its main track, Turfway president Bob Elliston announced April 27 at a press conference at Keeneland.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Breeder/owner William S. Farish will be seeking his third-straight win in the Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) Thursday at Keeneland Race Course with his 4-year-old colt Alumni Hall.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
A. U.S. Congressional subcommittee has asked the Jockeys' Guild to provide documents related to the Guild's management, accounting, and oversight of funds as well as information regarding Guild action relating to health insurance policies for on-track accident coverage.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Scot Waterman, executive director of the national Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, said the group has made significant progress the last year in getting racing jurisdictions to adopt its chapter on medication and model rules, a uniform set of medication and drug-testing policies.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Live Oak Plantation's In the Gold made a sweeping move on the far turn and held off a determined Aspen Tree in the stretch for a 1 1/2-length score in Thursday's Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland Race Course.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Oaklawn Park stewards suspended jockey Donnie Meche through Oct. 15 and fined him a total $1,500 for two separate violations cited in an April 8 ruling.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Champion 3-year-old filly Ashado, who won the 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel (gr. I) in her last outing, will make her 4-year-old debut in Saturday's Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Suspended jockey Donnie Meche has been asked to appear before the Oaklawn Park stewards March 31 to respond to the allegation of attempting to bribe a track official.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Seven horses at Gulfstream Park's Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla. have tested positive for the equine bacterial disease known as strangles.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Jockeys' Guild officials asked the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority March 21 to consider a new scale of weights for jockeys that would require a minimum body weight of 118 pounds without equipment and a minimum body fat requirement of 5%.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Keeneland has issued the parameters and penalties for pre-race "milkshake" tests it plans to implement during its April 8-29 spring meet.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Leaders of the Jockeys' Guild and Teamsters Union met Wednesday in San Diego to discuss how the two organizations can work together to advance the mutual interests of their members in the horseracing industry.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
A crowd of more than 200 fans and friends of John Henry gathered Wednesday afternoon to wish the five-time Eclipse Award winner a happy 30th birthday at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Ogden Mills Phipps' Defer will face a two-turn test against a field of 10 other sophomores entered in Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, the final major prep for the $ 1-million Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
The Jockeys' Guild paid $448,000 to Matrix Capital Associates in 2003, according to a financial report the Guild filed Feb. 11 with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Youbet.com has contributed $100,000 to the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program to help endow a proposed faculty chair to conduct industry business research to head the RTIP's masters degree program.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
A permanently disabled jockey who is part of a lawsuit against the Jockeys' Guild said the Guild office has refused to communicate with him and reimburse him for more than $3,800 in medical and Guild-related expenses.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
The Jockeys' Guild generated $2.1 million less revenue in 2003 than in 2002, according to a 2003 financial report the Guild filed in December with the U.S. Department of Labor. Total revenue declined 31% from $6.8 million in 2002 to $4.7 million in 2003, according to the document.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Tuesday that WAVE 3 TV in Louisville, Ky. and Premiere Radio Networks have been named recipients of Media Eclipse Awards.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Voters in Washington state rejected an initiative that would have allowed the expansion of electronic slot machines--only permitted in tribal casinos--to other locations, including Emerald Downs. But a top track official said it's the best thing that could have happened.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Jennifer Ray has been appointed director of marketing at Ellis Park. Ray, who held the same position at Louisiana Downs for the past 17 years, replaces Bob Cunningham, who recently resigned due to relocation.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Del Mar has installed just under six acres of new Bermuda grass on its Jimmy Durante Turf Course, allowing for nearly a year of growth before the Southern California racetrack returns to action next July.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Churchill Downs Inc. has named Randall Soth president and general manager of Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The announcement was made Sept. 30 by CDI's executive vice president and chief operating officer Andrew Skehan, to whom Soth will report.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Bluewater Sales announced Sept. 8 that Brian O'Rourke will serve as farm manager immediately following the Keeneland September yearling sale that begins Sept. 13.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Emerald Downs is experiencing a boost in daily purses and an extension of its 2005 racing season because of a $1.69-million investment by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, which owns the land beneath the Auburn, Wash., racetrack and operates a nearby casino.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
The 2005
Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will return to Bally's Las Vegas with more prize money and a follow-up television special on ESPN.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association said Aug. 15 Lexmark International has reached an agreement to become an official partner of the NTRA and an official partner of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The deal begins immediately and runs through July 31, 2007.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Arlington's International Festival of Racing Aug. 14 is opening the gates for a German invasion with imports Sabiango, Epalo, and Aubonne.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced that Premiere Radio Networks has won the Media Eclipse Award for Audio/Multi-Media Internet coverage of Thoroughbred racing.
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
