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Erin Riefenberg with Molly's Rose, then a 2-year-old at Santa Anita. (Photo courtesy Erin Riefenberg) No matter where Molly’s Rose finishes in Saturday’s $150,000 Claiming Crown Tiara, for Lexington-based owner-trainer Erin Riefenberg the 4-year-old filly is a winner just making it to the race at Churchill Downs. Or any race for that matter. "There [...]
Trainer Carl O'Callaghan aboard East Coast Girl at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation) Boy oh boy! O'Callaghan says of very male East Coast Girl, 'He's just a powerhouse' heading into Ready's Rocket Express First off: East Coast Girl, while from the East, is a boy. Never mind the name, Penn [...]
Oaklawn's barns will all be equipped with wifi supplied by the Arkansas HBPA. (Photo by Robert Yates) When horsemen ship into Oaklawn Park for the 2024-25 race meet, they’ll find every barn equipped with wifi. The Arkansas HBPA, which represents horse owners and trainers at the state’s only racetrack, paid to install internet in [...]
Indian Gulch going back to trainer Tom Van Berg's barn at Churchill Downs. Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation The 119 horses in the entries for Saturday’s eight Claiming Crown races at Churchill Downs might have been inexpensive at some stage of their career. But that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable. “This day of racing has [...]
Horsemen: Please read below HISA's announcement regarding provisional suspensions. But first we have a comment from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback. Thanks to all of you who have supported the NHBPA efforts through our Calls to Action and otherwise. National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback's comment regarding HISA announcement: "I applaud the HISA Authority for [...]
THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, IS THE DEADLINE to make your horses eligible for the $1.1 million Claiming Crown to be run November 16 at Churchill Downs. The eight races total $1.1 million in purses for all levels of horses on both dirt and turf. The minimum purse is $100,000 with the Claiming Crown Jewel offering [...]
The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau has advised that, effective January 1, 2025, the cost of TRPB Digital Tattoo® Certification will be set to US $110/CA $150 plus any sales tax if applicable. The TRPB’s core objective of the horse identification program is to provide a safe and secure means of equine identification at the racetrack [...]
Letter to horsemen, horsewomen from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback Dear Horsemen and Horsewomen: I am writing to let you know how the National HBPA continues to fight for horsemen and horsewomen in the courts. In 2021, we filed a lawsuit with twelve state affiliates charging that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) [...]
The interactive, electronic version of The Horsemen’s Journal’s Fall 2024 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: Serious Conversations National HBPA Conference at Prairie Meadows Racetrack tackles no-effect thresholds, HISA, CAW and more [...]
Letter from Eric Hamelback, National HBPA CEO Thanks to the hard work and support of horsemen and horsewomen, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) is making significant strides in its effort to bring common sense and fairness to horse-racing regulations. HISA’s proposed rule changes to receiving barn facilities and protocols acknowledge what [...]