Blood-Horse Two members of Congress, on the eve of two of Thoroughbred racing's biggest days, announced introduction of legislation that would end interstate simulcasts—and effectively cripple the pari-mutuel business—to encourage racing to end what they allege is widespread doping and cheating. It's not the first time such legislation has been introduced in Congress, or the [...]
Blood-Horse Belterra Park will open its 2015 live race meet May 1 but it will do so without a contract with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association for video lottery terminal revenue. Belterra Park, the former River Downs, began operating VLTs about a year ago, and under Ohio statute was to have a deal [...]
Blood-Horse Even when racing states use testing labs accredited by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, regulators have to be vigilant to ensure those labs are conducting all needed tests, at the proper levels, advised Susan Speckert April 29 at the National Conference on Equine Law. Speckert, general counsel for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, [...]
Blood-Horse A group of racetrack veterinarians told the Ohio State Racing Commission April 28 they support uniform medication policies, but because their top priority is the welfare of the racehorse, the state's current equine drug rules should for the most part be left alone. The vets offered their thoughts as part of a series of [...]
Blood-Horse Two-time leading Tampa Bay Downs trainer John Reading died Thursday night, April 23, at his home in Oldsmar, Fla., of natural causes. He was 99. Reading, who had the unique distinction of training Thoroughbreds for both current Tampa Bay Downs track owner Stella F. Thayer and late track co-owner George M. Steinbrenner, is credited [...]
Blood-Horse Mark Lamberth, a member of the Arkansas Racing Commission, took over as chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International April 23, during the organization's annual convention in Tampa, Fla. Lamberth was selected chairman-elect last year. The chair serves a one-year term. "He will be a good leader at a time when we need [...]
Blood-Horse An April 22 roundtable discussion on anti-doping programs around the world revealed several common issues, including a need for more financial resources and dealing with highly-sensitive testing in an environment in which therapeutic medications are regularly used in training. Laboratory directors from the United States, Great Britain, and Hong Kong took part in the [...]
Blood-Horse Joe King, former track superintendent at the New York Racing Association and U.S. Army veteran, died April 21. He was 80. A native of Queens, N.Y., King got his start with NYRA after working for the company that rebuilt Aqueduct Racetrack in the 1950s and ascended to the role of track superintendent in 1970. [...]
Blood-Horse The Association of Racing Commissioners International kicked off its 2015 convention April 21 with an emphasis on identifying at-risk racehorses and equine welfare issues—two things the organization believes are critical to the future of horse racing. The conference, being held in Tampa, Fla., through April 23, also will have a strong bent toward medication [...]
Blood-Horse A West Virginia Racing Commission purse analysis based on revenue projections from all sources indicates the state and its racetracks have serious issues to address regarding live racing dates in the future. The analysis, discussed during the April 21 WVRC meeting, projects purses for the state's two Thoroughbred racetracks based on various scenarios on [...]