National HBPA Concerns with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 (HISA) has been passed into law. The bill takes regulatory authority from state racing commissions and creates a new regulatory body responsible to the Federal Trade Commission. The new federal authority plans [...]
The finalists for six of the seven prestigious Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced. The winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award, which has one first-place prize, has been decided. This year's recipient is Maria Cristina Vasquez with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Three finalists in each of the six categories, along with [...]
Equibase Company has rebranded and relaunched its popular Today’s Racing app with a contemporary look and several new features, including a simplified betting tool, it was announced today by Equibase Company President and Chief Operating Officer Jason Wilson. Now branded as “Equibase,” the app is also compatible with iPads and can be downloaded free at [...]
Photo courtesy Indiana Grand When COVID-19 restrictions prevented the creation of the community garden for backstretch workers at Indiana Grand, Brian Elmore, executive director of the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), came up with an alternative. A local group is now making a weekly stop outside the stable gate to [...]
OwnerView announced today that the seventh Thoroughbred Owner Conference, scheduled to be held July 19-22, 2020, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will be rescheduled. “We were greatly looking forward to bringing the Owner Conference to beautiful and historic Saratoga Springs for the first time this year, but unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to look [...]
In late May, news broke that two of Bob Baffert’s trainees, Charlatan and Gamine, who won races at Oaklawn on May 2, had unconfirmed post-race identifications (positive tests) for lidocaine on that day. Social media and the backstretches of many racetracks have been abuzz with speculation about the dual violations, ranging from “innocent until [...]
The interactive, electronic version of The Horsemen’s Journal’s Summer 2020 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: Two Tracks, One Legacy: The Story of Washington Park Champion horses and horsemen frequented the famed [...]
Photo courtesy Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Racetrack announced that after consultation with Gov. Andy Beshear and state public health officials the 146th runnings of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Longines Kentucky Oaks will occur with spectators under strict guidelines. Kentucky Derby Week will be held Sept. 1-5 with the Oaks [...]
Allen Poindexter's Kauai winning last fall's Iowa Derby under Ramon Vazquez at Prairie Meadows. (Photo by Coady Photography) With Prairie Meadows opening for horse racing Friday, the Iowa HBPA is offering two programs to help out its members feeling the economic squeeze from COVID-19 shutdowns. Trainers can apply to receive up to $100 [...]
Amplify Horse Racing, an initiative to promote education and careers in the Thoroughbred industry, has released its 2020 virtual education schedule. Registration is open for the first event on June 16. Amplify Horse Racing Hangouts are a unique virtual education opportunity for youth, young adults, and Thoroughbred industry newcomers to engage with professionals about education [...]