HEADLINES

(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 [...]

Thayer delivering the keynote address at the National HBPA Conference (Photo by Denis Blake/National HBPA) Video of Thayer's keynote address Damon Thayer, who recently completed a 22-year tenure in the Kentucky State Senate, [...]

Ocala Stud general manager David O'Farrell, president of the new Thoroughbred Racing Initiative The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative — an industry collaboration created to fight for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United [...]

Laughing Boy. Photo by Coady Photography (from Churchill Downs news release) Laughing Boy crossed the finish line a half-length back of Surface to Air in Saturday’s $225,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill [...]

Ghostly Gal (pink saddlecloth). Photo by Coady Photography (from Churchill Downs news release) Two decades after his first Claiming Crown triumph, trainer Wayne Catalano returned to the winner’s circle Saturday when Ghostly [...]

Owner-trainer Mark Hibdon with Tennessee Moon at Churchill Downs for the Claiming Crown. Photo by Jennie Rees Bad 'Moon' Rising! Tennessee Moon takes 11 wins -- most in America this year -- into [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Photo by Jack Coady/Coady Photography Cecil Peters’ Shotshell rolled to a front-running 7 1/2-length victory in Friday night’s $50,000 Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse Claiming Crown Prep at Prairie Meadows, receiving an automatic [...]

National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels, left, and NHBPA CEO Eric Hamelback Friday night at Prairie Meadows. Photo by Michelle McShane Dr. Doug Daniels, a horse owner and equine veterinarian in Virginia, was [...]

The 2024 Kent Stirling Memorial Medication panel. From left: Dr. Clara Fenger, Dr. Tom Tobin, Dr. Rob Holland and trainer Ron Moquett. Photo by Denis Blake/NHBPA What could sharks possibly have to [...]

Thursday's panel discussing fixed odds on horse racing. From left: moderator Michele Fischer, Ed Fenasci, Kim Oliver and Dan Hartman. (Photo by Denis Blake/NHBPA) The new reality of Computer Assisted Wagering’s escalating presence [...]

Owner Brent Malmstrom Horse owner Brent Malmstrom told Wednesday’s opening session of the annual National HBPA Conference that he has spent more than $620,000 - “with no end in sight” — on fighting [...]

The National HBPA has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FTC urging them to issue no-effect thresholds for pharmacologically irrelevant concentrations of foreign substances that have no effect on a horse. The FTC is [...]

Today, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA) and twelve state affiliates won their second court victory as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) was found unconstitutional yet again. The United States [...]

Today, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA) filed a Petition for Rulemaking under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), requesting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create no-effect thresholds. A no-effect threshold, also known [...]

Dear Horsemen and Horsewomen, I am writing to each of you on behalf of the National HBPA Foundation, as we are seeking support for our fellow horsemen and women in New Mexico. As you likely [...]

Benoit Photo (from the Summer 2024 issue of The Horsemen's Journal) By Clara Fenger, DVM, PHD, DACVIM; Kimberly Brewer, DVM; and Thomas Tobin, MRCVS, PHD, DABT Horses are arguably the most well-adapted elite [...]

(from the Summer 2024 issue of The Horsemen's Journal) The Time to Stand Together is Now -- Before It's Too Late The last few months in horse racing have been trying, to say the [...]

Time for Trouble, outside, rallied from near-last to beat Proverb by a head in last December's Claiming Crown Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse at the Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photography) Time for [...]

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback, left, and National HBPA President and Board Chair Dr. Doug Daniels at Churchill Downs for the 2022 Claiming Crown. Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation The 2024 National HBPA [...]

We asked horsemen to join us demanding racehorse testing policies that incorporate common sense and science. We asked you to raise your voice to insist that HISA/HIWU utilize established research and qualified veterinary scientists to [...]

Photo by Coady Media The following article is from the Spring 2024 issue of The Horsemen's Journal: By Kimberly Brewer, DVM; Clara Fenger, DVM, PHD, DACVIM; Andreas Lehner, MS, PHD; and Thomas [...]

Eric Hamelback (Photo by Denis Blake) Following is National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback's letter from the latest issue of The Horsemen's Journal: Welcome to our first edition of The Horsemen’s Journal for [...]

The following is being distributed by the National HBPA on behalf of trainer Rusty Arnold. Open letter to horsemen by Rusty Arnold: I received notification and today am accepting the penalties for a horse in [...]

Nine racehorses, six trainers, and two jockeys account for the 17 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2024 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. [...]

(from SIS news release) SIS Content Services, part of the SIS (Sports Information Services) Group, the leading content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has agreed a landmark deal with long-time operator partner bet365 to [...]

Daily Racing Form writer Nicole Russo on her OTTB One Brave Warrior in a T.I.P. show at Antebellum Farm in Lexington in July, 2023. One Brave Warrior, a son of Indian Charlie, was bred [...]

(Edited press release from The Jockey Club) The Jockey Club has traditionally shared information about the initiatives it supports at its annual Round Table Conference in August. Beginning in 2024, early each year The Jockey Club will publish an annual [...]

One of Uncaptured Storm's nine wins in 2023 came in November 5 at Laurel Park, with jockey Javian Toledo wearing owner Rick Burnsworth's blue and white silks with a cross. (Jim McCue/MJC photo) [...]

Looking around the industry today, I’ll repeat what I said on Steve Byk’s At the Races radio show: We did not need to be here. Much of what the industry is experiencing right now is [...]

By Sherri Boland; Kimberly Brewer, DVM; and Clara Fenger, DVM, PHD, DACVIM From the Winter 2023 Issue of The Horsemen's Journal On November 12, 2023, 8 million viewers tuned in to watch 60 Minutes and [...]

An unedited press release from HISA Thoroughbred trainers Dale Romans, John Sadler, Shug McGaughey and racing and bloodstock manager Gavin Murphy have joined HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group, the body of racing industry participants formed [...]

At a time when track safety is more important than ever, Sal Sinatra, a seasoned industry executive, is launching Defendable Data and Equine Safety Solutions (DDESS) to tackle the issue of inconsistent and unpredictable [...]

Gift the joy of giving this holiday season! The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is running its Holiday Giving Campaign through the end of December, and today (December 4), the National HBPA is matching all donations up [...]

Money Supply (Photo by Hodges Photography) With his arsenal of six entries whittled down to five after races were taken off the turf for Saturday’s Claiming Crown card, trainer Joe Sharp scored the [...]

Frosted Grace, winning a $62,500 claiming race on Jan. 27 at Oaklawn Park (Robert Yates photo) Many of the trainers and owners running horses in Saturday’s eight Claiming Crown races already won a [...]

If it’s NOLA, it’s a party! The Louisiana HBPA, in conjunction with the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, is celebrating Saturday’s $1 million Claiming Crown in New Orleans fashion It all starts off with [...]

Coady photo: Ken Ramsey, second from right, accepting the barrel-head trophy - to be customized in his white and red silks - after securing his record ninth owners title at Kentucky Downs' 2023 [...]

When Paul Parker and trainer and co-owner Jeff Hiles claimed Time for Trouble for $8,000 some 2 1/2 years ago, they did not have huge expectations beyond getting a horse worth his price tag. [...]

A total of 90 horses spread over eight races were entered today for next Saturday’s 25th Claiming Crown, to be held for the first time since 2011 at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds Race Course & [...]

David Pope A hero is a person admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. There are heroes throughout the horse racing industry and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) recognizes [...]

The deadline to make a horse eligible for the Claiming Crown on Dec.2 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans has been extended to Tuesday Nov. 21. The deadline had been Saturday Nov. 18. Horses [...]

When the agenda-driven members of our industry control the narrative and steer the optics, you get a result such as Sunday’s CBS 60 Minutes broadcast. This biased reporting fails to reflect the reality in horse [...]

The Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international events, today announced that Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will host the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean [...]

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Claiming Seminar on Saturday, December 2 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana. The morning seminar is strategically positioned on the day of [...]

We, as is everyone in racing, are devastated by the news of Cody Dorman’s passing. Cody touched hundreds of thousands of people’s hearts, giving us the privilege of seeing a true champion persevere against all [...]

Dr. Doug Daniels Big news! Dr. Doug Daniels, President of the National HBPA, recently had an opinion piece published on Fox News. In it, Dr. Daniels explains why Congress needs to pass the Racehorse Health [...]

By Peter J. Sacopulos, JD From the Fall 2023 Issue of The Horsemen's Journal The Horseracing Integrity Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) rules governing adjudication of disputes continue to be [...]

Today, horseracing industry groups representing over tens of thousands of horsemen joined Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03) to introduce the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA) to bring safety to the industry. The bill is [...]

Joe Sharp with Callie's Grit. (Tim Wilkin photo) There is only one place Tim Witt wants to be on Sunday. He has to be at Kentucky Downs. Callie’s Grit is running. The [...]

Open Letter to the Industry By Darrell Vienna, attorney at law As HISA continues to modify and revise various parts of its rules1, one critical area has been allowed to continue its destructive effect [...]

Open letter to the industry By Thomas B. Little DVM In horse racing, the betting public counts on owners and trainers trying to win within safe and lawful parameters. A critical component associated with both [...]

The finalists and runners-up for the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced, including three finalists in six of the seven categories. The winner and runner-up of the seventh category, the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson [...]

Announcement by HISA & HIWU Regarding Provisional Suspensions: The policy changes linked to here will be effective immediately and shall apply to any Responsible Person Provisionally Suspended following a positive test for a Banned Substance. [...]

Photo courtesy Donald Smith Open Letter to the Industry By Donald Smith, DVM I am in the twilight of a career spanning more than 40 years practicing veterinary medicine at racetracks. With great [...]

Press release from the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) announced today that it has launched a mobile HIWU app to assist stakeholders in the Thoroughbred industry with the [...]

Photo of National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation For the past several years, National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback, on behalf of his board, has spoken out about the fundamental [...]

The summer issue of The Horsemen's Journal features an excellent and timely article titled "HISA Adjudication System: It’s not your state stewards’ hearings anymore." Read the complete article at https://bit.ly/3O2xkWi

A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for their courage. Often in the face of crisis and adversity, a hero will put themselves in harm’s way to help human or horse. There [...]

On July 18, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) introduced the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act with 15 bipartisan, original cosponsors. The HIRE Act strengthens temporary work visa programs, addresses the national workforce shortage, and remedies our nation’s broken [...]

From Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association: On Monday, the Louisville Courier Journal published an op-ed written by Peter Ecabert, General Counsel for the National HBPA. I want to [...]

Eric Hamelback (Photo by Denis Blake) Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA, told an assembly of track superintendents Tuesday that simply piling on more regulations will not make racing safer and that it [...]

Recently, an official with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority confirmed that the Authority is considering a rule change to allow it to shut down racetracks even when there is no ongoing health and safety [...]

From Doug Daniels, DVM, and President of the National HBPA: In the wake of the tragedies at Churchill Downs, along with the drastic move to relocate an active race meet, I feel compelled to make [...]

Invaluable winning last fall's $100,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper at Churchill Downs under Luis Saez. Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation The mare Invaluable has been selected as the 2022 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, [...]

For the past two years, we've heard nonstop from the other side of the HISA debate that our lawsuit was frivolous, ill-intended, and a waste of time. At every turn, we have said our [...]

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback response to Gagliano’s statement: While we will not respond in a tit-for-tat with The Jockey Club, we want to make one thing abundantly clear. That is to quote the Authority's own [...]

Statement from Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA), and Daniel Suhr, lead attorney representing the National HBPA and 12 of its affiliates, on the ruling today from the Northern District of Texas at Lubbock that the Horseracing Integrity [...]

Students in UofL’s Equine Industry Program get real-world experience through internships, field experience and contact with industry professionals from throughout Kentucky’s famed horse country. (Photo courtesy University of Louisville) As the world’s [...]

Photo courtesy Ron Hillerich The following is an editorial written by Louisville attorney, horse owner and breeder Ron Hillerich: I am a practicing attorney in Louisville, KY., and have been involved in [...]

Today, in a bench trial in the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Texas, Judge James Wesley Hendrix heard evidence and arguments on whether Congress can grant lawmaking and law enforcement power to a [...]

Eight new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The class of 2023 is comprised of jockey Corey Nakatani and the racehorses Arrogate (KY), California Chrome (CA), and [...]

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has once again been named the beneficiary of Preakness’ most anticipated event: America’s Best Racing’s Pre-Preakness Party. The eighth annual Pre-Preakness Party is set to be held on Wednesday, May 17, [...]

In a show of continuing support for the equine industry and Thoroughbred aftercare, Equine Equipment and Exmark have teamed up to donate an Exmark Commercial 60” Radius S Zero Turn Mower to be auctioned off [...]

The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) released the following statement regarding the injunction issued this evening to stop the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (Authority) from implementing its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) [...]

Rick Hiles with Sugar Cube/Jennie Rees photo Statement from Kentucky HBPA President Rick Hiles on the Kentucky General Assembly unanimously passing a resolution (SR 243 and HR 98) raising concerns about the [...]

Rick Hiles with Sugar Cube/Jennie Rees photo By Rick Hiles Anthony Manganaro should get his facts straight before running his mouth. His attack on the National HBPA and its affiliates is as [...]

The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) released the following statement regarding today’s decision by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to approve of Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) rules proposed by the Horseracing [...]

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium’s (RMTC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has been asked by several Thoroughbred industry stakeholders to perform an analysis and, where data permits, develop withdrawal guidance associated with the Horseracing Integrity [...]

Photo by Coady Photography Horse racing, perhaps more than any other sport, can produce unexpected and heart-warming stories that almost defy believability. In the 1930s, a former claiming horse named Seabiscuit rose to [...]

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. Denis Blake/National HBPA photo The following op-ed by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry was sent out by his office: As a young boy, I spent summers mucking out [...]

Trainers Talk (from left): Jason Barkley, Ron Faucheux, Bret Calhoun and National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback. Photo by Denis Blake/National HBPA The 2023 National HBPA Annual Conference closed with a lively discussion [...]

University of Kentucky's Dr. Thomas Tobin. Denis Blake/National HBPA photo Screening levels based on science for post-race testing are essential for the integrity of the horse-racing industry — as is public information about [...]

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. Denis Blake/National HBPA photo Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Daniel Suhr, managing attorney for the Liberty Justice Center, told an assembly of racehorse owners, trainers and [...]

Statement from Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act (HISA) is constitutional, setting up a split with [...]

Fifty years ago this March, Secretariat began his 3-year-old campaign in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. Over the ensuing months, the chestnut colt became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, setting new [...]

Photo courtesy ThorTurf Everyone in the equine industry knows that horses and dust go together. There’s just no way around it…any stable, arena, track or horse walker surface is going to kick up [...]

Statement from Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' denying the recent HISA motion: "We view this as additional strong evidence as to [...]

Five U.S. Senators joined five Congressmen yesterday strongly urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to disapprove the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) proposed Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program Rule that the Horseracing Integrity [...]

The National HBPA has announced that CHRIMS – PGSI has become a corporate sponsor of North America’s largest horsemen’s association. CHRIMS-PGSI serves customers both within and outside the state of California. Their client list [...]

The National HBPA is pleased to announce that Horsemen’s Track and Equipment Inc. is the organization’s newest corporate sponsor. “We are thrilled to welcome Horsemen’s Track and Equipment to our stable of corporate sponsors,” said [...]

On January 9, the National HBPA sent the following communication to April Tabor, Secretary of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), regarding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's proposed anti-doping and medication control (ADMC) rule. [...]

Turf specialist Kitodan, who went from being claimed twice last year to winning Kentucky Downs’ Grade 3, $750,000 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby, has been selected the National HBPA’s 2022 Claiming Horse of [...]

Jeff Landry (Photo courtesy Louisiana Attorney General's office) Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will be the keynote speaker at the National HBPA’s annual conference March 6-10 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ [...]

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Maggi Moss with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Second Stride with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 33rd Annual Stallion Season Auction and [...]

The Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) would like to advise horsemen that effective January 1, 2023, the cost of TRPB Digital Tattoo Certification will be set to US $100 or CA $125 plus applicable tax. [...]

Charles Scheeler, chair of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority board, in a letter to the editor submitted to industry news outlets, contends that misinformation has circulated about the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act [...]

Senator Chuck Grassley. Courtesy Grassley.Senate.Gov Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has jointly filed an amendment with Senator Manchin (D-WV) that would strip references to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) from the 4,000-page omnibus [...]

Dear National HBPA members and interested parties, Within the last few hours, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced an Amendment (click here to view) to strip references to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) from [...]

Statement from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback, General Counsel Peter Ecabert on the Senate's one-sentence 'fix' for the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act: Last night, Congressional leaders released text of a 4,000+ page omnibus [...]

The National HBPA was approached by trainers Wesley Ward and Larry Rivelli to help facilitate this open letter to the industry. While this is being distributed by the National HBPA, which also assisted in putting the [...]

Thoroughbred Charities of America announced today that Mt. Brilliant Family Foundation has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the upcoming 33rd Annual Stallion Season Auction to be held Wednesday, January 4 - Sunday, January 8, [...]

Statement from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback on the Federal Trade Commission's order to not approve the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control rules that were to go into effect Jan. 1: "The [...]

Help us help you: Tell Congress horse racing needs a strategic, legal alternative to HISA with all stakeholders at the table. In the wake of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruling the [...]

On Friday, Dec. 16, The Louisville Thoroughbred Society will be hosting a Holiday Celebration “Open House” for all current members and investors. The gathering is an opportunity to raise some significant money and assistance for [...]

The following information was sent out by The Jockey Club, and is being relayed by the National HBPA it to members and others in the industry.  The Jockey Club announced today that it will be increasing [...]

Cody Dorman in the winner's circle with Cody's Wish (Photo by Coady Photography) If you watched this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course, you surely remember the incredible story of Cody's [...]

The text below is a memorandum prepared by National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback and General Counsel Peter Ecabert following a Zoom meeting Monday of attorneys involved in the legal action. The PDF links below [...]

5th Circuit Court of Appeals' 3-0 opinion ruling HISA unconstitutional “It is the duty of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association to protect horsemen across the country and that is not a responsibility [...]

National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels DVM (right) and NHBPA CEO Eric Hamelback at Churchill Downs. (Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation photo) By Doug Daniels DVM, National HBPA president After reading both the Bennet [...]

Digital training at Churchill Downs (Jennie Rees photo). Longtime Kentucky HBPA president Rick Hiles knows how big a deal it is for racing’s rank-and-file horsemen to participate in the Claiming Crown, the series [...]

Twelve Volt Man Winning the 2021 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson) A total of 95 of some of the nation’s top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, [...]

Trainer Joe Sharp on Intrepid Heart Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation) Joe Sharp will saddle three horses Saturday in pursuit of his first Claiming Crown victory: Intrepid Heart [...]

Candy Raid winning the Bourbonette Oaks at 52-1 odds under Rafael Bejarano last April 2 at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Photography) While claiming horses so often fill out the programs for the [...]

Carl O'Callaghan on Moti Tuesday morning. (Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation) The Claiming Crown was created 24 years ago to serve as a Breeders’ Cup-style event celebrating the blue-collar horses that populate [...]

A hero is a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. There are heroes all around the horse racing industry, and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) recognizes some of [...]

Total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course was $189,060,373, a record for the two-day event. The total represents a 3.4% increase over the prior record of [...]

A severe labor shortage ranks among the most critical challenges facing racehorse owners and trainers across the country.  As such, the National HBPA applauds the Biden administration for recognizing the importance of the H-2B program [...]

Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) has introduced legislation in the United States House of Representatives that would delay the implementation date of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) from July 1, 2022, to [...]

Track Superintendent Field Day has announced dates and locations for the next two editions of the annual gathering focusing on track safety and best practices. The 2023 renewal of the event will be held June [...]

Letter to NHBPA members from President Doug Daniels DVM: NTRA's Rooney is wrong when he says majority supports HISA Recently we have seen a host of letters and op-eds hit our industry media. Certainly, [...]

Photo by Coglianese Photography/Lauren King The now 5-year-old gelding Miles Ahead lost his first start back in 2019 by 43 lengths but went on to prove trainer Eddie Plesa’s belief that he [...]

After being held virtually for two years due to COVID-19, The Jockey Club’s Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing will be held as an in-person event in 2022 and hosted for the [...]

The home of the Kentucky Derby will also host the 2022 Claiming Crown. (Photo courtesy Churchill Downs) The Claiming Crown heads to its sixth location for the 24th renewal in 2022, with [...]

Seven-term U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the second-most senior Member of the United States Senate, and three of his colleagues yesterday sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Horseracing [...]

The 10th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 22, in the Keeneland sales pavilion, will be available via livestream through links at grayson-jockeyclub.org and on jockeyclub.com. The event is co-hosted by The [...]

OwnerView has added a panel to its Virtual Owner Conference series with representatives from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to assist owners with the registration process for HISA. The Zoom webinar will be [...]

A panel covering the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) has been added to the agenda for Track Superintendent Field Day set for June 12-14 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The implementation of [...]

The National HBPA has agreed to aid in disseminating information intended for our affiliates to forward or post to all members. Understanding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) is set to take effect on [...]

The agenda has been finalized for the 20th edition of Track Superintendent Field Day on June 12-14 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. It is the largest and longest-tenured gathering for track supers and [...]

(from TIEA news release) Nominations for the 2022 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA) opened on Monday, May 10, and will close on Friday, July 15. The TIEAs were held in the U.S. for the first [...]

Sixteen-year-old Ty, who “loves to be around horses and would love to see them run fast,” lives with regressive autism, meaning that he is non-verbal. Even though Ty is non-verbal, he found an instant connection [...]

Brook Smith, left, and Jim McIngvale were honored at the Backside Learning Center's April 14 fundraiser as a "Person of Impact." (Photo courtesy Backside Learning Center) (from Backside Learning Center news release) It [...]

The Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga has opened registration and posted the agenda for the three-day event, which takes place August 15-17, 2022. The prestigious conference will bring together gaming and racing industry leaders, [...]

Zippy Chippy, left, and Red Down South at Cabin Creek (Photo by Connie Bush/Tiger Eye Photography) Zippy Chippy, horse racing’s most loveable loser, has died. A retiree at Old Friends at Cabin Creek [...]

Amplify Horse Racing and MyRacehorse are pleased to announce “Amplify Junior, Sponsored by MyRacehorse” – a partnership that will deliver a children’s educational tour series to Kentucky. The exciting new initiative will teach young children and [...]

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Calendar Photo Contest is now open for submissions. The TAA is seeking photos of Thoroughbreds at a TAA-accredited organization or of Thoroughbreds who have been adopted from a TAA-accredited organization. [...]

On March 31, U.S. District Court Judge James Wesley Hendrix issued a ruling in National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association v. Black. While Judge Hendrix’s opinion recognizes the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) as [...]

The National HBPA Foundation is coming to the assistance of Nebraska horsemen whose horses have been quarantined since March 10 following an outbreak of Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). The National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association Foundation [...]

Hello everyone, At the National HBPA/NHAC Full Board meeting March 5, 2022, I used the time set aside as my CEO Update to request all of our affiliates to stand with me by challenging [...]

(from Jockeys and Jeans news release) Jockeys and Jeans, a volunteer group dedicated to raising funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), today named Caesars Entertainment Inc. Vice President of Racing Joe Morris an [...]

(from Grayson-Jockey Club news release) The board of directors of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced today that it has authorized expenditure of $1,661,180 to fund 15 new projects and 10 continuing projects at 16 universities [...]

Trainers must adjust to the times to have any hope of alleviating the chronic shortage of backstretch workers. That was among the takeaways at a panel on guest-worker programs and employee development Friday morning for [...]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday, March 3, 2022, issued an order approving without exception all the racetrack safety regulations propounded by the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA). The rubber-stamp order accepted without [...]

Pingpong, anyone? How about horse racing instead? Dave Basler sees betting on table tennis in Asia and envisions it being replaced with horse racing in America’s burgeoning sports books. “We can fill that void a [...]

Ron Moquett (Photo by Denis Blake/National HBPA) Trainer Ron Moquett, who is on the board of the Arkansas HBPA, said he decided 12 years ago “to be invested in the sport. I’ve got [...]

D. Wayne Lukas, the most transformative trainer in at least horse racing’s modern era, delivered Wednesday’s keynote speech at the National HBPA Conference at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. Video: watch [...]

Photo by Denis Blake/National HBPA The National HBPA’s National Conference at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort broke from the gate Wednesday with a panel on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act entitled “HISA: Where [...]

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced today that it will host the 10th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit on June 22, 2022, at Keeneland. The event will be co-hosted by The Jockey Club. The previous [...]

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) announced today that it will be hosting its sixth forum as a series of two virtual webinars in April. The sessions, which will include a combination [...]

Groom Carlos Orantes accepts the award for the best turned out horse in race 9. For the fourth consecutive year, Centennial Farms sponsored the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Best Turned Out Horse Awards during [...]

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), legislation scheduled to go into effect July 1, will be the subject of a special edition of Kentucky Racing Spotlight this Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on [...]

Owners David Staudacher, right, and Peter Proscia led Special Reserve and jockey Joel Rosario into the winner's circle after capturing last fall's Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes. (Keeneland/Coady Photography) Special Reserve started last [...]

OwnerView announced today that registration is open for its in-person Thoroughbred Owner Conference, which will be held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 25-26, 2022. This will be the first [...]

Registration is now open for Track Superintendent Field Day on June 12-14 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The gathering brings together track superintendents and staff to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, [...]

Season 5 of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s popular live webcam series Foal Patrol is now available online at www.foalpatrol.com. Foal Patrol is a one-of-a-kind collection of live cameras following the [...]

Statement from NHBPA CEO Eric Hamelback on USADA leaving HISA: "The National HBPA continues to stand steadfast behind our belief that the HISA Act is an unconstitutional delegation of authority to a private organization. With [...]

The winner of this year’s RTCA White Horse Award is Marshall Allen, who saved the life of a long-time owner at Emerald Downs. A hero is a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements, [...]

Buff Bradley, right, and Franklin County extension agent Keenan Bishop, middle, and another volunteer clearing trees off of fencing in Bremen, Ky. Photo courtesy Keenan Bishop The Kentucky HBPA, on behalf of [...]

Season 5 of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s popular live webcam series Foal Patrol will debut online at www.foalpatrol.com on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Season 5 will feature in-foal mares at [...]

Paco Lopez celebrates a five-win day, including four Claiming Crown victories. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson) (from Gulfstream Park news releases) Jockey Paco Lopez put the finishes touches on a five-win afternoon [...]

Max K. O. winning at Kentucky Downs (Photo by Grace Clark) Ten Twenty Racing’s Max K. O. earned a berth in Saturday’s $95,000 Emerald by winning a Sept. 8 qualifying race at [...]

(from Gulfstream Park news release) Very much the ‘poster horse’ for what the annual Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park represents, Mastic Beach Racing’s Tune In will seek his seventh win in his last 10 [...]

Beantown Baby (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club/Laurel Park) (from Gulfstream Park news release) Team Valor International’s 5-year-old mare Beantown Baby, a six-time career winner, looks to break through with another big victory [...]

(from Gulfstream Park news release) At the age of 79, Frank Russo is enjoying his time in the sun. That doesn’t mean he’s content to just watch the time go by. Far from it. The [...]

Jennie Rees (Photo courtesy Kentucky HBPA) Lucky 7 Stable’s Mike Mackin, horse owner/celebrity bettor Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer are among the guests as Kentucky Racing [...]

A trio of thirty-something trainers has been elected as newcomers to the Kentucky HBPA board with the addition of Jason Barkley, Norm Casse and Bentley Combs. Rick Hiles was re-elected as Kentucky HBPA president, with [...]

Photo by Jennie Rees D. Wayne Lukas — the most transformative horse trainer in the modern era — will be the keynote speaker at the National HBPA’s annual conference in March in [...]

Expanding purse supplements for Kentucky-breds to include claiming races would shore up the state’s year-round horse-racing circuit, keeping horses and jobs in Kentucky, the leading horsemen’s association told a legislative committee Friday. Rick Hiles, [...]

Photo courtesy Churchill Downs (from Churchill Downs news release) Miguel Mena, one of the winningest jockeys in Churchill Downs history and a two-time winner of the prestigious Stephen Foster Stakes, was killed in [...]

The finalists for the 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced, including three finalists in six of the seven categories, as well as the winner and runner-up of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award. This [...]

Attendees at the 2021 Track Supers Field Day at Indiana Grand (Photo by Coady Photography) The 2022 edition of Track Superintendent Field Day will be held June 12-14 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale [...]

Frost Or Frippery (#1) has been named Claiming Crown Horse of the Year. (Coglianese/Derbe Glass photo) Steve Landers calls Frost Or Frippery “as hard-hitting a horse” as he’s ever owned. There’s no better [...]

OwnerView announced today that registration is now open for an in-person Thoroughbred Owner Conference, which will be held Wednesday, November 3, in Del Mar, Calif., to coincide with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November [...]

Dr. Doug Daniels Horse owner and equine veterinarian Dr. Doug Daniels has been elected president of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, North America’s largest organization representing thoroughbred racing owners and trainers. [...]

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will feature several new and returning special exhibitions this summer for the upcoming Saratoga racing season. All summer exhibitions will debut on Thursday, July 1. New [...]

Photo by Coady Photography More than 100 attendees representing approximately 70 tracks, training centers and farms convened at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino for the 20th renewal of Track Superintendents’ Field Day [...]

Amplify Horse Racing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to amplify education and careers in the Thoroughbred industry, has launched a mentorship program aimed at pairing young adults with Thoroughbred industry professionals. The objectives of the program are [...]

Mattress Mack with Runhappy By James McIngvale As handicappers and racing enthusiasts across America prepare to dive into this week’s sensational Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, keep this in mind: Where you bet matters. [...]

After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 20th Annual Track Superintendents’ Field Day is set to be held June 14-15 at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino and registrations are on pace for possible record [...]

From National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback: The National HBPA advocates for extensive and complete surveillance, uniformity based on transparent research, and zero tolerance of any cheating, doping, or race fixing. What we have seen [...]

Big Bass winner Brian Lynch (Photo courtesy Finish Line Horse Products) Finish Line Horse Products is dedicated to supporting the Thoroughbred industry on and off the track. Due to the success of [...]

A strong lineup of speakers has been announced for the 20th annual Track Superintendents Field Day set for June 14-15 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The meeting brings together track superintendents and staff to [...]

ISSUES WITH HISA  The lack of a funding mechanism is just one of the problems with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act By Kimberly Brewer, DVM, MSc; Clara Fenger, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; William Knoll; and [...]

U.S. Congress created a private organization with federal authority to make laws, issue subpoenas and collect money LUBBOCK, Texas (March 15, 2021) — Organizations representing Thoroughbred horse owners and trainers have filed a federal [...]

The organizers of the Track Superintendents Field Day are pleased to announce that the 20th edition of the event will be held June 14-15, 2021, at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The event brings together [...]

Message from Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA: Dear owners, trainers, breeders, racing officials, race track employees, and all horse racing enthusiasts, Today I want to bring to light the importance of SB120, [...]

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation has announced the allocation of $20,000 in scholarships to students pursuing equine studies or a related field within the state of Kentucky. Ten separate $2,000 scholarships will be [...]

OwnerView announced today that the 2021 Thoroughbred Owner Conference will be held as a free series of virtual panels over nine months. The conference series, hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and [...]

Where Are We Going from Here? By Leroy Gessmann, National HBPA President and Chairman of the Board By the time this op-ed goes to print, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) could very well [...]

Photo by Coglianese Photos By the time the Claiming Crown had ended Saturday at Gulfstream Park – after a record $14.6 million was wagered on the event – it was clear how much [...]

Luis Saez (Photo by Lauren King/Coglianese Photos) Luis Saez, a two-time Championship Meet titlist who began his U.S. career in South Florida, rode the winners of six races on Saturday’s 11-race program [...]

Fiya (Photo by Derbe Glass/Coglianese Photos) Robert Masiello’s Fiya blazed to victory in Saturday’s $90,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury at Gulfstream Park, collecting his fifth straight victory since being transferred to turf. The Canterbury [...]

High Noon Rider (Photo by Lauren King/Coglianese Photos) GenStar Thoroughbreds’ High Noon Rider, having spent the summer and early fall on the road, returned home to register the biggest win of his 55-race [...]

Jesus' Team (Photo by Derbe Glass/Coglianese Photos) Prepping for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team returned [...]