Here and There

Jim Wilson has been named manager of Pepper Oaks Farm near Santa Ynex, Calif....Blake Tohana was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Magna Entertainment. He replaces Graham Orr, who will rejoin Magna International...The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced today that the July 23rd Saratoga premiere of Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Spyglass Entertainment's Seabiscuit is sold out. More than 350 tickets were sold...Winners Federation Inc. the association of caregivers providing addictions prevention, treatment, and intervention services on the backstretches of North America's racetracks, has received a $3,000 grant from Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Thoroughbred Charities of America grant will be applied in part to the communications segment of the Winners Federation's recently approved Business Plan. Winners Report a quarterly newsletter distributed to industry leaders and participants, highlights developments in the battle against drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions in the racing industry. ... The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will offer a racing film series dubbed "Del Mar Goes to the Movies." The six-film series will be presented on Sunday evenings following the races on the big outdoor screen in the track's picturesque paddock. Admission is free and Del Mar will throw in a bag of popcorn for the same price to all moviegoers. The film schedule consist of two "classics" - "Phar Lap" and "The Black Stallion" - as well as three comedies - "A Day at the Races", "Let It Ride" and "It Ain't Hay." Additionally, the track will premier a "sneak preview" of a racing documentary based on a year's worthy of filming at the barn of trainer Richard Mandella by award-winning filmmakers Bill Yahraus and Robin Rosenthal. The Del Mar movie series will kick off July 27...Don Burt is the winner of Pfizer's Equine Industry Vision Award. Burt received his award at the American Horse Publications seminar June 19-21. The award recognizes ingenuity and service within the horse world. Burt has spent over 50 years living and working as a member of the horse industry and his efforts have been felt across disciplines. For nearly a half century he has been involved in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Among his many roles within the organization was serving as president, beginning in 1996. The other finalists for this year's Equine Industry Vision Award included the American Quarter Horse Association, Stanley F. Bergstein, Dr. Frank Gravlee, Matthew Mackay-Smith and Robert Vavra. These finalists will automatically be entered in next year's competition. To request a nomination ballot for next year's award, please contact Chris Brune, Executive Director, American Horse Publications at 386-760-7743 or e-mail AHorsePubs@aol.com.