COLORADO HORSE-RACING ASSOCIATION

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Rocky Mountain Futurity trials were on Friday. Finalists for this futurity are listed below. This Futurity will run on Saturday July 17,  2010 at Arapahoe Park...


Kr Moose-17.657--Z. Kelsey
Gotem Singn Falsetto-17.659--K. Purcell
I Cant See Jack-17.663--C. Wainscott
Wave Bac-17.706--J. Sauceda
...Jamaka Me Mad-17.732--N. Garcia
Bf Sonic Boom-17.739--R. Vicchrilli
Mr Speed Wrench-17.742--C. Wainscott
Oh La Traffic-17.768--J. Chavis
Im a Corona Dude-17.781--C. Wainscott
Royal Darius-17.860--D.W.Essman

"The Saint" Horse Play Show on Thursdays 4 pm, Castle Rock Internet Radio

"Mission Impossible" Horse Play Show

"The Avengers" Horse Play Show

"The Big Match" Horse Play Show

Bailey Fincher

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EL PASO -- The boy who was found unconscious in a pool Sunday died at a local hospital today.



Police said two-year-old Bailey Fincher was pronounced dead at Providence Memorial Hospital at 2 p.m. Thursday.



Police initially believed Fincher died in the backyard of his home in the 900 block of Vereda del Valle Avenue, but rescuers were able to get a heartbeat on the boy. He had been listed in critical condition for the last five days.



Bailey Fincher is survived by his parents, Todd and Lauren Fincher, and his brother Tanner Fincher.

Published in El Paso Times from May 13 to May 18, 2010

Purses will be increased for all Colorado Bred Races with the following schedule:

Trials $1,000

Maiden Allowance $2,000

Maiden Claiming $1,000

Claiming $1,500

Allowance $2,000

Allowance Stakes $2,500 This includes the American Flyer and the Doll’s Prodigy Allowance Stakes

The Ruffian Stake for TB’s has been added back with a name change to George Wafer Memorial.

The Leo Beau Dash 870 Allowance Stake has been added back to be run on August 1.

Planned NM Track Loses Gaming License

By The Associated PressUpdated: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 8:01 AM
Posted: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 8:01 AM 
 The New Mexico Gaming Control Board has revoked a gaming license for a planned racetrack casino in Raton near the Colorado border.
The developer, Canadian Michael Moldenhauer, missed the deadline to get a temporary casino up and running. That prompted the board to revoke the license during a meeting in Albuquerque May 4.
The board initially authorized a casino license for the planned $50 million track last June.The New Mexico Racing Commission followed with its own meeting May 4 and decided to consider disciplinary action to revoke the developer’s racing license at its May 19 meeting.
Officials said the developer had to meet two conditions for the license; one was to begin the track’s first race meet May 28, and the other was to have a gaming license.  

Barn area to open for horses April 23, 2010.

The Stewards for 2010 have been named as follows:

Randy Blaseg - Senior State Steward
George Slender - State Steward
Hank Demoney - Association Steward

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IMPORTANT NOTICES FROM COLORADO RACE COMMISSION

N   O   T   I   C   E

 

TO:   All Horsepersons at Arapahoe Park’s 2010 Race Meet 
FROM: Dan Hartman, Director, Division of Racing Events RE:                 
Implementation of New Guidelines and Required Testing for Equine Piroplasmosis 
DATE:            March 24, 2010
            
      On March 19, 2010, staff members from the Division of Racing Events, Racing Commissioner Charles Vail, DVM, Veterinarians Keith Roehr and Carl Heckendorf from the Department of Agriculture, representatives from Arapahoe Park and members of the Colorado Horse-Racing Association met to determine the guidelines for the 2010 racing season at Arapahoe Park and for managing the issues surrounding domestic equine piroplasmosis. In light of my consultations with members of the aforementioned groups, our collective determination is that equine piroplasmosis may pose a threat to the orderly conduct of the 2010 race meet.  At this stage of our understanding of the disease, we must recognize that, while minimal, there is the potential for an appearance of equine piroplasmosis and resultant quarantine for this disease at Arapahoe Park’s upcoming meet.  Therefore, all horses coming to Arapahoe Park for the meet will need to be tested and obtain negative test results for equine piroplasmosis within thirty (30) days prior to entry onto the grounds of Arapahoe Park.  The tests to be administered need to be for both types of protozoa, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Negative test results are to be attached to the health certificate, along with the other requirements, the Coggins test, et.al.  Additionally, your veterinarian must include this information on the health certificate: “I personally inspected this animal and it does not display clinical signs of equine piroplasmosis, and I inspected this animal for ticks.”              
    
     In addition to the required negative test results for equine piroplasmosis to be obtained within thirty (30) days prior to entering Arapahoe Park, all horses leaving Arapahoe Park during the season will not be allowed to re-enter without a new negative test result attached to a health certificate.  Additionally, approval must be obtained from the General Manager and Director of Racing of Arapahoe Park before horses will be allowed re-entry to the racetrack premises.            
    
      Please make sure that the necessary tests are performed prior to arriving at Arapahoe Park.  No horses will enter the grounds without the above testing having been performed and without proper documentation.  Should anyone bring horses to the racetrack without the proper test results, that person and his/her horses would be turned away and not allowed to access the grounds.            
     
  Some items of note: 
·         One major way that equine piroplasmosis is transmitted is from ticks that host the disease.  Arapahoe Park management will be taking steps to manage and spray for ticks.  This may mean that horse trailers may be parked in one spot and sprayed for any type of ticks and parasites. 
·         Horses being imported into the United States from other countries as well as unsanitary animal husbandry and veterinary practices involving sharing of needles may also contribute to the spread of this and other diseases.  To that end, all veterinarians shall use sterile, disposable needles and syringes for all treatments to horses.  Such materials should be considered potentially hazardous waste and properly disposed after each single use. 
·         All tests must be sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Should you have any questions, please contact our office, Arapahoe Park or your horse representative. 
Colorado Racing Commission contact person:     Duke Mann–303-205-2929 (main office) 
303-690-6910 (Arapahoe Park)Arapahoe Park contact person:  Bill Powers–303-690-2400 
Colorado Horse-Racing Association contact person:   Shannon Rushton–303-475-4396

2010-03-26

 

COLORADO RACING COMMISSION LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
 2010  Racing License -
 All participants in racing at Arapahoe Park Racetrack will be required to hold a current and validated Colorado Racing License. All Owners will have to have a completed license application submitted and on file before your horse will be allowed to start. 
 Notice owners & trainers: All new owners or trainers must be fingerprinted when obtaining a license.  We do not accept fingerprints from any jurisdiction!!  Please plan ahead and get licensed prior to opening weekend and prior to entering a horse.  The Division is available to mail out application packets.  If you hold a driver’s license from one of the following states: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Washington, you will be required to present a copy of your birth certificate or a US passport at the time of
application.  If you do not have one of these items, you will not be allowed to race until you can provide it.  
Trainers: If you have a groom working with the H2B program, they must have their extensions done prior to arriving at Arapahoe Park.  If they do not have current paperwork, they will not work until they receive their updated paperwork! 
fingerprints: Anyone fingerprinted prior to 2005, will need to be reprinted when renewing a license.  License fees are $75 new, $65 renewal w/prints and $25 for renewal w/o prints.
Please visit the Colorado Division of Racing Events website to obtain commission meeting information: www.colorado.gov/revenue/racing ; or email us at racing@spike.dor.state.co.us with questions. 
Questions can also be answered at our offices located in Lakewood M-F 9-4:30:1881 Pierce St., Suite 108Lakewood, CO 80214Or by calling the licensing direct line at: 303-205-2912

Beginning in May, we will have our office open at Arapahoe Park as well.

 

2010 New & Modified Rules    
ASSOCIATED PERSON - Associated person means the spouse of an inactive person, or a companion, family member, employer, employee, agent, partnership, partner, corporation, or other entity whose relationship, whether financial or otherwise, with an inactive person, would give the appearance that such other person or entity would care for or train a horse or perform veterinarian services on a horse for the benefit, credit, reputation, or satisfaction of the inactive person.   
TRACTION DEVICE - Is any modification or isolated device that extends below the ground bearing plane of the horseshoe (e.g. traction nails, toe grabs, turndowns, blocked heels, jar calks, stickers and Memphis bars) or restricts the natural forward slide of the hoof upon impact.    
3.508 – Beginning no later than January 31, 2012, in order to maintain a current license, trainers must complete at least four (4) hours per calendar year of continuing education courses approved by the Commission or the ARCI.   
3.638 – A jockey may not ride against a contract employer.  This rule does not apply to jockeys qualifying horses in trial races or riding in a stakes race. 
5.317 – Furosemide may be administered intravenously to a horse, which is entered to compete in a race or to facilitate the collection of a post-race urine sample.  In order for a horse to be allowed to participate in a race on Furosemide, the following process must be followed:   
1:    A horse shall be entered properly to participate on Furosemide and then such horse will be automatically added by the Division veterinarian to the Division test barn medication database for the current race meet.  All first time usage of Furosemide by horses participating in a race, shall be designated properly in the official program.  The Division veterinarian and the board of stewards shall monitor the usage and discontinuance of the administration of Furosemide during the current race meet for all non-bleeders.  
2:  Furosemide shall be administered only on Association grounds. 
3: Upon the request of the Division representative, the veterinarian administering the authorized bleeder medication shall surrender the syringe used to administer such medication, which may then be submitted for testing.  
5.502 - The trainer shall be responsible for and the absolute insurer of the condition of the animals entered for his or her kennel/stable regardless of the acts of third parties except as provided in these rules.  If the chemical analysis of a sample indicates the presence of an unauthorized drug or medication regardless of the effect on the racing condition or the performance of an animal in a race, the trainer of the animal and any other person shown to have care or attendance of the animal or shown to have administered or conspired to have administered the drug are subject to disciplinary action. The owner of the animal shall not participate in the purse distribution of that race, a redistribution of that purse shall be ordered, and the animal shall be declared unplaced for every purpose except for pari-mutuel wagering and the grading system as it pertains to greyhound racing. "Unplaced for every purpose" means any placement based upon the race would be declared invalid and the purse or prize for any such race would be returned.  “Unplaced for every purpose” includes, but is not limited to, any placement, purses or prizes that an owner may have earned in subsequent races, for which the horse would not have been qualified due to the presence of an unauthorized medication found in a previous race. A trophy received by the owner of the animal shall be returned.  
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PENALTIES  5.612 - Any horse from which a positive test sample was collected and confirmed by the Commissions’ primary testing laboratory shall be placed on the veterinarian’s list and must pass a Commission-approved examination before becoming eligible for entry. Subsequent laboratory testing that may be required in the approved examination process shall be at the expense of the owner or trainer of the horse.  Any horse from which a positive test sample was collected and confirmed by the Commissions’ primary testing laboratory in the initial sample test or in any required subsequent laboratory testing, may also be subject to disciplinary action by the stewards, a hearing officer or the Commission prior to the horse’s next entry.  This shall not apply to an overage of an authorized medication, where the violation would not result in a loss of purse, pursuant to rules 5.312 and 5.326.    
6.704 ‑ Whenever the license of an owner is revoked or suspended, every animal owned in whole or in part by the owner shall be ineligible to be entered or to start in any race while the disciplinary action is in effect, unless the ownership of the animal has been transferred through a bona fide sale to a licensed owner in good standing, who is not an associated person as defined or has provided satisfactory proof to the stewards that no association exists.   
6.706 ‑ Whenever the license of a trainer is suspended or revoked, every animal which is under the trainer’s care shall be ineligible to be entered or to start in any race while the disciplinary action is in effect, unless care of the animal has been transferred to a licensed trainer in good standing, who is not an associated person as defined or has provided satisfactory proof to the stewards that no association exists.  
7.108Either special conditions on eligibility, which have been officially adopted by the relevant horseman’s association or racing association for any stake or trial race entry form, or specific conditions set forth in the racing condition book that were in place at the time of nomination or entry, shall override any racing rules determining eligibility to run in all races run in conjunction with that entry or condition, including but not limited to the finals and as approved by the Division Director.  

The 2009 Condition book was sent out in error.  The 2010 Condition Book will be sent out on March 17. 

ARAPAHOE PARK STALL APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK:

http://www.mihiracing.com/index.shtml

This is posted on National HBPA’s Blog this morning – go to: http://nationalhbpa.blogspot.com/2010/03/benefits-for-horse-industry-in-mini.html  Benefits for Horse Industry in “Mini” Jobs Bill Just Passed 

Courtesy of the American Horse Council (www.horsecouncil.org)

Congress has passed a second jobs bill, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), which includes an extension of the expensing allowance through 2010 and other provisions to stimulate employment. President Obama sign the bill into law on Thursday, March 19, 2010.

Last year Congress passed the Stimulus Bill that included bigger write-offs for horses and other property purchased and placed in service during 2009. But these provisions expired at the end of 2009. The new HIRE Act extends one of the benefits, the so-called Section 179 expense deduction for assets, including horses, purchased and placed in service through 2010. The bill does not extend bonus depreciation, which expired at the end of 2009.

The HIRE Act also includes a few other provisions that may impact horse owners.

Expensing Allowance

The Section 179 expense deduction allows an owner who purchases a horse or other business property and places it in service in 2010 to expense up to $250,000 of the cost. This applies to horses, farm equipment and any depreciable property used in a business. Once total purchases of horses and other eligible property reach $800,000, the expense allowance goes down one dollar for each dollar spent over $800,000.

To illustrate the expensing allowance, assume a horse business purchases $750,000 of depreciable property in 2010, including $650,000 for horses. That business can write off $250,000 on its 2009 tax return and depreciate the balance. If instead, purchases were $900,000, the expense allowance would go down by $100,000.

This provision would benefit any business involved in the horse industry that purchases and places depreciable property in service in 2010.

Other Provisions

The new legislation also includes provisions to forgive payroll taxes for hiring unemployed workers and gives a business tax credit of $1,000 for every new employee retained for 52 weeks to be taken on the employer’s 2011 tax return. These provisions are designed to boost employment.

Editor's Note: If you know someone who might be interested in getting into the racing industry, this law makes 2010 an excellent time to do so - especially if they are needing a sizable tax write-off that the depreciation on racehorses could create. Be sure to share this information with them.

New horse racing law could close OTB sites

When a new owner took over the Wyoming Downs horse track in Evanston in 2006, he predicted an expansion of live racing there, plus at the state's off-track betting facilities.

Despite an initial bump in the days of live racing that first year -- from 14 to 19 days -- it hasn't worked out that way. Not by a long shot.

This year, Wyoming Downs does not plan to offer any live racing. It has only requested a permit for two roping days, which allows it to qualify for a simulcast permit. Since Wyoming decided to allow off-track betting in 1989, the OTB sites have subsidized the operation in Evanston by offering horse race simulcasts from tracks around the country, and then adding dog racing.

In the mid-1980s, when Wyoming Downs opened, Casper, Gillette, Rock Springs and Cheyenne also had live horse racing tracks. But the industry has been dying a slow death for decades for a variety of reasons, including more competition for entertainment dollars, the opening of casinos on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and periodic economic downturns (including the one Wyoming is in today).

Along the way, the only surviving track has made attempts to resuscitate its business by expanding what it offers at OTB locations in Evanston, Casper, Cheyenne and Rock Springs. For a short time "instant racing" machines were allowed, but in 2005 the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled they were just another form of slot machines, which are illegal in Wyoming. And while the business had been an ardent opponent of a state lottery, it changed its tune last year and supported a bill that would have allowed it to have virtual lottery terminals at its OTBs. The measure failed.

This year, a frustrated Wyoming Horse Council proposed closing a loophole in the state's pari-mutuel laws that allows Wyoming Downs to continue holding a license for the simulcast broadcasts without scheduling any live racing. Senate File 64, sponsored by Sen. John Schiffer, R-Gillette, easily passed. It gives the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission authority to set the number of live horse racing or pari-mutuel event days to qualify for a simulcasting permit.

The commission must now adopt rules regarding those requirements before the law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011. Charles Moore, the commission's executive director, said the state will work with Wyoming Downs and the horsesmen's group to craft regulations that are fair to all concerned.

Good luck with that. It's not going to be easy to please both groups, and it may be impossible.

While we understand the horsemen's desire for more live racing, and feel it would benefit Wyoming residents and visitors who enjoy the activity, the fact remains that it's a losing proposition for any track owner. Government shouldn't force anyone to lose money.

Eric Spector, owner of Wyoming Downs, estimated he loses $20,000 to $25,000 per day on every live day of racing at the track. He maintained that due to high overhead at the OTB sites, he can't recoup the losses through simulcasting if it's mandatory he run a few weeks of live racing.

"This concept of government or legislative control over this operation is the wrong approach," Spector said. "All it's going to do is put us out of business."

We don't think that was the Legislature's intent at all, but it's likely to happen. Lawmakers should closely watch the progress on rules made by the commission, and revisit the issue next year if necessary. Live horse racing may never make a full recovery in Wyoming, but that's no reason off-track betting facilities should now be placed in jeopardy.



THE EFFECTS OF TRAINING IN COLD WEATHER

Researchers at Oklahoma State University (OSU) recently completed a study on airway cooling and mucosal injury during cold weather exercise. Using the Thoroughbred racehorse as a model, scientists found that even cantering in sub-freezing temperatures can induce airway obstruction (bronchoconstriction, or airway contraction). The research appeared in the February issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Human subjects that routinely perform strenuous exercise in cold conditions have a higher prevalence of chronic airway inflammation and hyperactivity (often referred to as "ski asthma" because its effects are often found in cross-country skiers). The scientists set out to determine whether exercise while breathing cold air could cause chronic airway disease in the equine athlete.

Previous studies in both humans and horses have confirmed that when exercising in subfreezing temperatures with low humidity, the upper airways fail to fully warm the inhaled air, leading to considerable loss of heat and water from the lower airways. These studies also confirmed that this stimulus is associated with airway mucosal damage.

"Our data show that exercising in cold air can provoke airway changes in otherwise healthy horses and may in fact be a part of the cause of the eventual development of chronic airway disease in equine athletes," explained lead researcher Michael S. Davis, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM.

The effects were seen in horses exposed to exercise/cold air during a single challenge (five minutes of easy cantering).

"We intentionally ran the horses at a slow canter to avoid airway bleeding and, as a result, had to reduce the temperature of the inhaled air to compensate," said Davis. "We published an earlier study (in a supplement to the Equine Veterinary Journal in 2002) in which we demonstrated that a similar challenge will be delivered at a fast canter or gallop with air temperatures above freezing. Thus, this is not just an issue for horses running way up north or in the dead of winter. Part of our previous study was done on horses training at Pimlico (Baltimore, Md.) in late March and early April."

Once the challenge was over, the airways returned to normal, but, "We don't know how long it took as we allowed them a minimum of two weeks before we tried anything else,"

Davis added. "The reality is that horses that experience one challenge are likely to experience repeated challenges three to four times a week while training. The time it takes these cumulative challenges to resolve is probably quite a bit longer.

"We've done similar studies in sled dogs and found that it takes more than four months to resolve," he said. "We are considering studies in both horses and sled dogs to see if they perform better if and when we make the airway inflammation go away."

Researchers feel the effects of cold weather exercise might inhibit the immune response.

But, Davis stressed, these studies do not demonstrate conclusively that the horse's immune system is suppressed, "Only that they might have trouble responding to certain types of infection."

"We're currently developing those studies (on the immune response)," added Davis.

"Obviously, the results would potentially apply to humans since the cold and flu season seems to be in the winter."


Dr. Davis is an expert in the study of lung physiology and the effects that cold weather/air has on the lung tissue. With this, I am refraining from riding unless the temp in the barn is at least 32F and if it is a little lower, will only walk or trot lightly for short periods of time. I live in MO so these temps are short term and not worth damaging my horse's lungs or amking him more susseptible to disease.

The National HBPA has secured very valuable Insurance coverage for the membership.  

Owner & Trainer Liability is designed to protect your assets in the event that you are found liable for bodily injury or damage to property arising from your horse activities (including breeding, racing, sales and training).

 Contact:   N.H.B.P.A. Owners and Trainers Liability Program

                  c/o Stone Lane LLC

                  P.O. Box 1101 Peewee Valley, KY   40056

                  1-800-446-3112

WASHINGTON UPDATE   "No-Match" Rule Rescinded  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule that will rescind the so called "no-match" rule. DHS originally issued the "no match" rule in August of 2007 in an attempt to crackdown on employers who "knowingly" hired undocumented workers.  The rule required an employer that received a "no match" letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA), indicating that an employee's name and the social security number did not match, to resolve the discrepancy within 90 days or terminate the employee.   It provided for a "safe harbor" procedure that employers could follow, ending with the employee's termination within 90 days if the mismatch could not be resolved.  If the employer did not follow the "safe harbor" rules, it would be subject to increased fines and criminal penalties. At that time various labor and business groups filed suit seeking an injunction against the DHS enforcing the rule, which they believed was severely flawed.  In October 2007, the U.S. District Court for Northern California barred DHS and the Department of Commerce from enforcing the new measures.   "After further review, DHS has determined to focus its enforcement efforts relating to the employment of aliens not authorized to work in the United States on increased compliance through improved verification, including participation in E-Verify, ICE Mutual Agreement Between Government and Employers (IMAGE), and other programs," stated the DHS announcement.  The final rule rescinding the "no match" rule will go into effect November 6, 2009. Please contact the AHC with any questions. American Horse Council  ·  1616 H Street NW 7th Floor  ·  Washington D.C., 20006 Phone - (202) 296-4031  ·  Fax - (202) 296-1970  ·  Web Address - www.horsecouncil.org




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