The National HBPA has issued the following statement regarding the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: The National HBPA has consistently maintained that racing rules should be grounded in common sense, supported by veterinary science, and shaped by the practical realities of the sport—with meaningful input from those who live and work within the [...]
In a collaboration to further increase the popularity of the Claiming Crown series for racing's blue-collar horses, Colonial Downs will host an eight-race Claiming Crown Preview Day on Thursday August 21 at Virginia’s thoroughbred track in New Kent. The top two finishers in each race will receive an automatic berth in the corresponding Claiming [...]
Statement from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback on the flooding of the Oaklawn Park-owned Ten Mile Creek Training Center in Lonsdale, Ark., about 17 miles west of the racetrack. (According to Arkansas HBPA Executive Director Jeanette Milligan, 68 horses were moved safely to Oaklawn Park.): "Our thoughts are with the entire Oaklawn Park community as they endure [...]
Jan Meehan at Churchill Downs for the Claiming Crown last fall By Jan Meehan, Tampa Bay Downs HBPA vice president, thoroughbred owner, trainer and breeder The Tampa Bay Downs HBPA, which represents racehorse owners and trainers at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack, has been clear about its opposition to the decoupling effort (Senate [...]
(Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation photo of Hamelback) From National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback: The recent article in The Seattle Times detailing the potential closure of Emerald Downs by 2026 should provide a stark warning to everyone in horse racing of the detrimental impact that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and its enforcement [...]
from the Spring 2025 issue of The Horsemen's Journal By Hannah Hamelback Photos by John Engelhardt Precarious Man fit the popular Thoroughbred look: dark bay, with a black mane and tail, a chiseled head on a long neck and a lean body with deep, muscular shoulders. On the morning of February 3, 1988, Precarious [...]
The interactive, electronic version of The Horsemen’s Journal’s Spring 2025 issue is now available online. It is an enhanced version of the printed magazine, which is currently being mailed. To view it, click here. Features in the issue include: The Backbone of the Stable Award-winning Turf writer, publicist Jennie Rees continues to advocate for horses [...]
The first quarter of 2025 has been nothing short of a tsunami for most of us in the industry. We entered the year with hopes of turning the page, making positive strides and setting the industry on the right path. Then came January 7. While the events of that date didn’t bring our industry [...]
Training at Gulfstream Park. (Eric Hamelback photo) The horsemen’s organization representing thoroughbred owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park is rejoining the National HBPA as an affiliate. The board of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, North America’s largest group representing thoroughbred owners and trainers, unanimously approved re-admitting the organization currently called the [...]
Sally Jane Mixon by Denis Blake/National HBPA The annual National HBPA Conference concluded its educational presentations Wednesday morning first with a session on how retired racehorses are transforming the lives of first responders and military members, as well as school children of backstretch workers. The final presentation showcased products using cutting edge technology to [...]