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So far Denis Blake has created 735 blog entries.

2025 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year: Concrete Glory

#7 Concrete Glory held off Wound Up by a head to win last year's $100,000 Claiming Crown Ready's Rocket Express. Coady Media/John Gallagher Big Frank can put a ring around another accomplishment for Concrete Glory. The horse that owner Frank Rupolo’s Big Frank Stable claimed 24 races ago for Gulfstream Park’s bottom-level [...]

2026-06-18T12:08:22+00:00

5th Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Down HISA for Third Time

Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously declared the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) to be unconstitutional. The court ruled in favor of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and twelve state affiliates, saying, “The Horsemen … contend that HISA facially delegates unsupervised enforcement power to private actors. They are [...]

2026-06-11T19:19:39+00:00

New World Screwworm Updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed a case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in a calf near La Pryor, Texas, approximately 50 miles from the Texas-Mexico border. While the affected animal was cattle, the detection marks the first confirmed case of New World Screwworm in the United States during the current outbreak and has significant [...]

2026-06-08T18:07:47+00:00

Iowa HBPA Applauds Gov. Reynolds Signing HF 2615 into Law to Protect Iowa Thoroughbred Racing

Iowa Governor's Office photo, from left: Mike Vanderpool, Marylee Vanderpool, Victoria Moss, Jon Moss, Governor Kim Reynolds, Allen Poindexter, Joe Kelly, Rep. Heather Hora, Sen. Adrian Dickey. The Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (IA HBPA) applauded Governor Kim Reynolds for recently signing House File 2615 into law, legislation that strengthens and protects Iowa’s [...]

2026-05-29T16:14:35+00:00

Nominations Now Open For Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards

Nominations for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in North America are now open. Celebrating its 11th year, the program will accept nominations through midnight on Monday, July 13. Hallway Feeds has supported the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards through its sponsorship of the Dedication to Breeding Award. CEO Lee Hall commented, “We are both proud [...]

2026-05-14T18:52:06+00:00

Statement from National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels on HISA Maintaining Lasix Status Quo

From The National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels:  We appreciate the thoughtful and measured decision by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to reconsider the role of Lasix in race-day care. As the Board approached its vote, it was clear that concern among horsemen and women was intensifying, rooted in the practical realities of managing equine [...]

2026-05-05T15:54:34+00:00

Message from the National HBPA CEO – Staying In Our Lane: Regulation Is Not Branding

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback (Photo by Gwen Davis) In every industry, there is a difference between governance and marketing. Between authority and advertising. Between statutory responsibility and institutional ambition. In Thoroughbred racing, that distinction matters. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act created the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and its enforcement [...]

2026-04-15T14:01:55+00:00

Kansas HBPA Announces Board of Directors

The Kansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (KHBPA) announces its confirmed inaugural Board of Directors. Every board member is an active horse owner, breeder, or trainer who intends to participate at Eureka Downs. Together, they represent the breeds and horsemen expected to fill future entries at the track — a significant majority of whom will [...]

2026-04-14T16:04:33+00:00
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