floridahrseseptember2011
DESCRIPTION
Florida Horse magazine September 2011TRANSCRIPT
Whether it’s in the auction ring or on the racetrack,Florida-breds mean business
In 2010, the Sunshine State produced 3 Breeders’Cup and Eclipse champions in Awesome Feather,Big Drama and Dubai Majesty.
Legendary Florida-bred Affirmed is still the lasthorse to have swept the Triple Crown
Now more than ever, can you afford to notbreed, own and race Florida-breds?
Don’t wait for successto come to you.Go with a winner.Breed and raceFlorida-breds.
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTUREAND CONSUMER SERVICES
Adam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374e-mail: [email protected]
407 S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Contact the FTBOA more information at (352) 629-2160; www.ftboa.comOr visit us on facebook at www/facebook.com/thefloridahorse
Whether it’s in the auction ring or on the racetrack,Florida-breds mean business
In 2010, the Sunshine State produced 3 Breeders’Cup and Eclipse champions in Awesome Feather,Big Drama and Dubai Majesty.
Legendary Florida-bred Affirmed is still the lasthorse to have swept the Triple Crown
Now more than ever, can you afford to notbreed, own and race Florida-breds?
Don’t wait for successto come to you.Go with a winner.Breed and raceFlorida-breds.
TOPANDBACKGROUND
PHOTOS:LOUISEREINAGEL
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603
www.ftboa.com • [email protected]
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
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4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
CONTENTSS e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 1 VO L 5 4 / I S S U E 7
FTBOA 2011 BOARD CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHIES 22SPECIAL STATUS 24A quartet of Florida breeders leads the way bynumber of 2011 Florida-bred stakes winners.—By Jo Ann Guidry
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS 30Florida breeders Fred Brei and Harold Queencapture top prizes on Juvenile Showcaseday at Calder—By Michael Compton
BREI’S HOMEBREDS ARE AWESOME, OF COURSE 34—By Nick Fortuna
STRONG DEMAND 36Demand for Florida-breds strong duringFasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale—By Michael Compton
AVERAGE AND MEDIAN RISE AT OBS AUGUST SALE 38—By Michael Compton
‘COIL’ED UP 40Florida-bred Coil wins Haskell Invitational atMonmouth Park—By Nick Fortuna
CROWN RACING 46Horse ownership for everyone—By Amanda Roxborough
EQUINE CARE: ALL SHOOK UP 48Adapting vibration therapy to horses—By Denise Steffanus
FINAL SPONSORS NAMED FOR HORSE FEVER 52
FLORIDA FOCUS 8FTBOA CHASE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 16HORSE COUNCIL NEWS 54PRACTICALLY SPEAKING 57Total hoof care management
NEWS BITS 58YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARK 59
—By Connie Duff Wise
FLORIDA’S LEADING SIRES 60PLAYER’S PAGE 62
—By Paul Moran
COVER PHOTO: MARK WYVILLECONTENTS: FLORIDA-BRED COIL—BILL DENVER
DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS
FEATURES
ContentsSept_USE.qxd:Layout 1 9/8/11 11:40 AM Page 1
FTBOA OFFICERS ANDBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred Brei, PresidentBrent Fernung, First Vice President Phil Matthews, SecondVice President
Sheila DiMare, Secretary Bonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVEVICE PRESIDENTRichard E. Hancock
801 SW 60thAvenue • Ocala, Florida 34474(352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com
American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is publishedmonthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Sta-tistical Review in February.
Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors anddo not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publicationsor the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Associa-tion. Publication of any material originating herein is expresslyforbidden without first obtaining written permission from THEFLORIDA HORSE©.
Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing inNorth America are compiled from data generated by Daily Rac-ing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Serv-ices, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., thecopyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited.
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 5
Linda Appleton PotterJoe Barbazon
Dean DeRenzoDonald Dizney
Barry W. Eisaman
Roy LermanJ. Michael O’Farrell, Jr.Jessica SteinbrennerFrancis VanlangendonckCharlotte C. Weber
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Compton
BUSINESS MANAGER
Patrick Vinzant
ART DIRECTOR
John Filer
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JoAnn Guidry
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Beverly Kalberkamp
CORRESPONDENTS
Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt
PUBLISHERFlorida Equine Publications, Inc.
(A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474
BOARD OF DIRECTORSFred Brei, President/Board ChairmanBrent Fernung, 1st Vice PresidentPhil Matthews, 2nd Vice President
Sheila DiMare, SecretaryBonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Caroline T. Davis
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Florida is well-known for the earlysuccess of its promising young sires.This year is no exception.
Freshman sires from the Sunshine State are
once again getting precocious juveniles on
the racetrack, and it is reflected in the na-
tional standings.
Ocala Stud’s High Cotton leads the way in
Florida and ranks 5th nationally with progeny earn-
ings of $342,132 through early September. The
leading sires list in this issue (page 60) reflects sta-
tistics throughAug. 31.
An earner of $462,574 during his racing career,
High Cotton is a son of Dixie Union out of theA.P.
Indy mare Happy Tune. His leading earner is
Hopeful Stakes (G1)
winner Currency Swap
with $180,000. He is the
sire of six winners.
“I thought theywould
be early and have speed,”
said Ocala Stud’s J.
Michael O’Farrell Jr. of
High Cotton’s juveniles.
“I think his runners won’t be just speed. They
should go long as well. His offspring that we had at
the farm all have good bone, good size and trained
well. He’s by Dixie Union, who had a lot of speed,
and High Cotton broke his maiden in his second
start, but won his stakes races at two turns.”
Second in Florida and 15th nationally with
earnings of $170,982 at press time is Mr.
Sekiguchi. The son of Storm Cat—Welcome Sur-
prise, by Seeking the Gold, stands at Bridlewood
Farm. Mr. Sekiguchi’s top runner is stakes winner
Rose and Shine, an earner of $170,502.
Journeyman Stud stallion Saint Anddan ranks
third in the Sunshine State and 16th nationally.The
graded stakes-winning son of A.P. Indy—Ado-
radancer, by Danzig Connection, has five winners
and is led byWoebegon, an earner of $36,000.
“To be honest, he’s off to a faster start than I
thought he would be, being by A.P. Indy,” Jour-
neyman Stud’s Brent Fernung said of Saint And-
dan. “But when I started breaking his young
horses, Woebegone and a few others gathered
themselves very quickly. I’m real happy with
where we’re at with him right now. I believe his
runners should be even better as they get older.”
Signature Stallions’ Shakespeare is the fourth-
leading freshman sire in Florida with progeny earn-
ings of $146,626.Themillionaire son ofTheatrical
(IRE)—Lady Shirl, byThat’s a Nice, has threewin-
ners and already one repeat winner. He is the sire
of impressive Woodbine maiden special weight
winners Laertes and Shakespeare’s Brew. The lat-
ter, with earnings of $41,013, is his leading earner.
Rounding out the top five is Journeyman Stud’s
Exclusive Quality with $136,101 in progeny earn-
ings. The stakes-winning son of Elusive Quality
out of the Glitterman mare First Glitter, is repre-
sented by five winners and his leading earner is
Quality Lass, an earner of $48,885.
Ready to crack the top five are Hartley/De
Renzo’s Simon Pure and Journeyman Stud’s Teu-
flesberg. Simon Pure has progeny earnings of
$124,540 and boasts sixwinners fromhis first crop.
Teuflesberg follows with $99,154 in progeny earn-
ings. He has three winners and hisTrinniberg most
recently finished second toHighCotton’s Currency
Swap in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.�
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
editor’s welcome
Michael Compton/JOE DIORIO PHOTO
Fast Start
Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton
CIND
YMIKE
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OTO
Florida’s freshman sires making their mark
“I thought they would be early and have speed. Ithink his runners won’t be just speed. They shouldgo long as well. His offspring that we had at thefarm all have good bone, good size and trained
well. He’s by Dixie Union, who had a lot of speed,and High Cotton broke his maiden in his second
start, but won his stakes races at two turns.”—J. Michael O’Farrell Jr. of High Cotton’s juveniles
LOUISE
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OTO
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Currency Swap remained
undefeated in his two career starts with a
victory in the Three Chimneys Hopeful
Stakes (G1) on closing day Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
After a stretch-long duel, Currency
Swap, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, wore down
Trinniberg, a son of Journeyman Stud stal-
lion Teuflesberg, in the final strides to score
by three-quarters of a length. Over a sloppy
track, Currency Swap covered seven fur-
longs in 1:26.16.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to win it until
after I had passed the wire,” said Maragh.
The win earned the colt, owned by Klar-
8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Currency Swap SplashesTo Victory in Hopeful Stakes
Live Oak Plantation Florida-bred showsaffinity for the turf in Saratoga feature
By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Brilliant Speed regained the form that saw him
sweep to victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) over Polytrack at
Keeneland earlier this year when he impressively put away a
competitive group in the 10th running of the Saranac Stakes (G3)
Sept. 4 on the turf at Saratoga.
Well-rated in mid-pack early as Chinglish led through an open-
ing quarter in 24.33 seconds with Queen’splatekitten taking over
for a half-mile in 49.89, Brilliant Speed made a three-wide move
on the far turn to join the leaders in the stretch. He blew by
Queen’splatekitten in the final furlong, winning by 2½ lengths at
the wire. His final time for 11⁄8 miles over firm turf was 1:48.73.
“We’ll keep our options open,” said TomAlbertrani, who trains
Brilliant Speed for Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation. “He
showed more kick today, which is what I had wanted to see on the
dirt. All things considered, he might just have to stay on the grass;
Polytrack might also be an option. Johnny kept him a little closer
to the pace today and didn’t let the lack of speed get away. He had
a nice kick today.”
Brilliant Speed, a son of Dynaformer, finished third over a
sloppy track in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and in his most recent
start finished fifth in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.
With the winner’s $60,000 share of the Saranac purse, Brilliant
Speed has now earned $700,750.
“I knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of speed, so I wanted to
be in nice position,” said jockey John Velazquez. “I had a good
hold of him. He was going nice the whole way around. At the
quarter-pole, I asked him and he responded right away. A very
good effort. He’s a better horse on the grass. No doubt.”
Albertrani indicated that theGrade 1 JamaicaHandicap, 11⁄8 miles
on turf Oct. 8, was likely to be the next start for Brilliant Speed.
Brilliant Speed Hits Best Stride in Saranac
Son of Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton earns berth in Breeders’Cup Juvenile
Florida-bred Brilliant Speed winning the Grade 3Saranac at Saratoga.NY
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 9
Big Drama ReturnsWith Big PerformanceBy CALDER PUBLICITY
Harold Queen’s 2010 Eclipse champion sprinterBig Drama returned from a layoff of more than 6½months with a very impressive 2¼-length victory inthe $75,000 Whippleton Stakes at Calder Casino &Race Course Sept. 4, a race that should put him ontrack to defend his title in the $1.5 million Breeders’Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.
With jockey Daniel Centeno aboard, Big Dramabroke from the one-post in the field of just four afterthree scratches and sat second behind a first quarterin :22 flat down the backstretch of the 6½-furlong test.He took command easily into the far turn and held asafemargin over second-choiceBlackCat Diamond tothe wire in 1:173⁄5 over the ‘fast’ track. PeaceAt DawnandAccredit completed the order of finish.
The race marked Big Drama’s first start sincewinning the $100,000Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at
Gulfstream Park on Jan. 15 in track record time forsix furlongs, his only appearance since sealing hisEclipse championship campaign winning the Breed-ers’ Cup Sprint at Churchill last Nov. 6.
The 5-year-old Florida homebred by OcalaStud stallion Montbrook ran his career earnings tonearly $2.75 million.
“I was relieved when they (Calder officials) gotthe race to go and we didn’t have to ship (Mon-mouth Park for Icecapade Stakes), but I’m evenmore relieved now, and he did it without a shoe (leftfore). We think he might have lost it leaving thegate,” said winning trainer David Fawkes. “Thefractions were legitimate (22, 454⁄5 & 1:104⁄5). Danny(Centeno) and Eibar (Coa) are friends and Eibar toldhim to ride him with confidence and he did. Afterhe made the lead, he just coasted home. It was allvery smooth. He’ll stay down there and train andthen be flown up here (Belmont Park) the week ofthe Vosburgh (Oct. 2).”
avich Stables and William Lawrence and
trained by Teresa Pompay, a berth in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill
Downs as part of the “Win andYou’re In”
series of races. It was the first Grade 1 win
of Pompay’s career.
“I was so excited I thought I was going
to pass out,” said Pompay, who began gal-
loping horses at the Spa when she was 16.
“It’s been exciting and fun because I knew
I was bringing a good horse. This horse is
so special. I’m so proud of him that he
came through.
“This is just the start, because now we
can go forward from here,” she added. “Ob-
viously we’d like to do the Breeders’Cup. I
think this horse is going to get better as he
gets older, and I think
he’ll like the added
distance as well.”
Currency Swap is
by Ocala Stud stallion
High Cotton, cur-
rently Florida’s lead-
ing freshman sire. The
Hopeful winner was
bred by Stonecliff
Farm and was broken
and trained by De
Meric Thoroughbred
Sales. The winner’s
purse of $180,000
boosted his bankroll to $210,000, triple
what his owners paid for him at the Fasig-
Tipton yearling sales in Kentucky last July.
“It’s been a long time between Grade 1s
for us,” said Klaravich owner Seth Klar-
man, noting his last Grade 1 winner was
Subordination in the 1998 Eddie Read at
Del Mar. “We were excited about this
horse before he even ran.We’ll see how he
comes out. Logically, the next spot would
be the Champagne [Grade 1, Oct. 8, Bel-
mont Park].”
Trinniberg finished 3¾ lengths clear of
Big Blue Nation.
Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton (below)and Currency Swap (above).
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Florida-bred Big Drama (center)
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10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Florida-bred son of Journeyman Stud stallionHear No Evil notches first Grade 1By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Jackson Bendmay not be the biggest horse on the
grounds, but the same thing can’t be said about his heart.
Racing for Robert LaPenta and breeder Fred Brei, Jackson Bend
demonstrated his grit and made it back-to-back stakes victories at
Saratoga with an authoritative score in the Forego Stakes (G1) on
Sept. 3.
In the back of the pack early after breaking from the rail, Jackson
Bend launched his rally around the far turn. Jockey Corey Nakatani
guided Jackson Bend between horses in the stretch and the son of
Journeyman Stud stallion Hear No Evil did the rest, hitting the wire
3¼ lengths ahead of JerseyTown. He stopped the timer in 1:22.08 for
the seven furlongs. Fellow Florida-bredAikenite rallied late for third.
The victory made Jackson Bend racing’s newest millionaire.
The $150,000 winner’s share of the purse lifted his career bankroll
to $1,062,450.
“Last time, I was able to figure him out a little bit,” said Nakatani.
“He can be tactical. I just let him get in that high cruising speed.
When I called on him and needed to get into position at about the
three-eighths pole, he was
there. Turning for home, I an-
gled down, then I angled back
out and he exploded. Once I
get to the lead on him, he kind
of waits a little for horses. I’m
getting to know him a little
better each time. Once I set
him down and got him run-
ning, it was a matter of how far he was going to win.”
Jackson Bend bookended his meet in stylish fashion. Prior to the
Forego, he captured the James Marvin Stakes July 27.
Winning trainer Nick Zito said he vigorously conditioned Jackson
Bend in the lead-up to the Forego andwas grateful the strategy paid off.
“We socked it to him pretty good [with] those workouts,” said the
Hall of Fame conditioner. “He hadn’t run in six weeks.Whether I’m a
tough coach on him, I don’t know, but he responded. He didn’t get away
good but he made up for it and it worked out perfectly for him.We all
got excited [on the turn].TomDurkin’s call was right on themoney, he
said ‘Jackson Bend’s starting to run!’ and we all got excited.”
The Forego was the first graded stakes win for Jackson Bend, who
began his career at Calder where he swept the 2009 Florida Stallion
Stakes series. Hewas second in the Grade 1WoodMemorial and third
in the Grade 1 Preakness in 2009 and this year had gone 0-1-1 in four
Florida starts prior to his two starts at Saratoga. Overall, Jackson Bend
is 7-5-2 from 20 starts.
Jackson Bend AllHeart in Forego Victory
Florida-bred Jackson Bend (above) is by Journeyman Studstallion Hear No Evil (below).
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12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Gulfstream Park
Racing & Casino an-
nounced last month a $3 million capital im-
provement project that will include the
installation of six new Daktronics boards
throughout the facility, approximately 250
stadium seats in the Tiki Hut area, and the
addition of the Trakus system to enhance
video and instantaneously digitize races.
Gulfstream will replace the Barco board
in its infield, the three around its walking
ring and the two in its north and south tow-
ers with enhanced, higher resolution Dak-
tronics LED displays. An additional LED
board will be installed in the infield directly
across from the Tiki Hut to give fans a bet-
ter view of the races.
The Tiki Hut, a popular gathering spot
for families and race fans and the site each
Saturday morning of ‘Breakfast at Gulf-
stream,’ will also have 250 free covered
seats for the 2011-12 season, which runs
from Dec. 3 through April 8.
“The capital improvement projects un-
derway are just another sign of
Mr. Frank Stronach and The
Stronach Entertainment Group’s
commitment to Thoroughbred
racing and to our fans both lo-
cally and globally,” said Gulf-
stream’s President and General
Manager Timothy Ritvo. “While
the new Gulfstream was con-
structed only six years ago, Mr.
Stronach is committed to giving
Gulfstream a facelift and keeping up with
the latest in video technology.
“Mr. Stronach and our staff also continue
listening to our fans, who have expressed a
desire for additional covered seating.We be-
lieve our fans will enjoy the location of our
stadium seats, which will be located near
the finish of our 11⁄16-mile races.”
Trakus uses wireless tech-
nology that monitors every
horse at every moment in every
race. Their positions are digi-
tally displayed by using small
radio transmitters that travel in
the saddle towels of each horse.
The Trakus Online Network
also allows race information for
every horse at each point-of-
call and full results data is avail-
able every half furlong for trip distance,
peak and average speeds, margins and rail
distance.
Gulfstream Announces $3 Million in Capital Improvements
Tim Ritvo
JIMLI
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14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
By NICK FORTUNAWith $716,735 in the bank, Bridgetown
is a formidable turf runner wherever he goes,
but there’s something about the Saratoga lawn
that brings out the best in the Florida-bred colt
eachAugust.
Bridgetown, a homebred for EugeneMel-
nyk of Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala, im-
proved to 3-for-3 on the Saratoga turf with a
6¾-length romp in the $76,500 Troy Stakes
on Aug. 17. The 4-year-old son of Speight-
stown and the Tabasco Cat mare Ellesmere
got his first win on that grass course in a
$50,000 maiden special weight race in Au-
gust 2009 and returned lastAugust to capture
the $70,000 Latham Stakes.
Bridgetownwas sent off as the 4-5 favorite
in the 5½-furlong Troy Stakes, which drew a
field of six 3-year-olds and up. Usual rider
John Velazquez got him to settle into second
place early as Florida-bred Wildcat Frankie,
making his turf debut, carved out fractions of
22.26 seconds for a quarter-mile and 45.40
for a half-mile on a yielding course.
With just a light shake of the reins, Ve-
lazquez prompted Bridgetown to challenge
the leader on the outside, and the horse
went to the front easily at the quarter pole
before opening up a 3½-length lead early
in the stretch run and drawing off. He
stopped the clock in 1:03.13 after getting
right-handed encouragement from Ve-
lazquez in the final sixteenth of a mile.
“He handled everything well,” Velazquez
said. “It was very impressive. He broke a step
slowly, so I gathered him up for the first part
of the race. I think that was the difference
right there, getting him to settle for the first
part of the race.”
Florida-bred Pashito the Che, with Javier
Castellano aboard, finished second, half a
length ahead ofAwakino Cat. Goldzar,Yield
Bogey and Wildcat Frankie completed the
order of finish.
Bridgetown was running for the first
time since a trip to Great Britain, where he
finished 12th of 19 in the King’s Stand
Stakes (G1) at Ascot in June. He’s won
seven of his 14 career starts.
“He came back well and was right back to
himself the last three to four weeks,” saidTris-
tan Barry, an assistant to winning trainerTodd
Pletcher. “He’s been doing very well, as he
normally does, so we were expecting him to
run a big race.Wewill see whatTodd and Eu-
gene (Melnyk) want to do from here, but this
was a nice starting point. It was good to see
him back in the winner’s circle.”
Bridgetown is a five-time stakes winner,
having also won the Summer Stakes (G3) at
Woodbine in 2009, the $104,000 GildedTime
Stakes at Monmouth Park last year and the
$75,000 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs in
February.He alsowas the runner-up toPounced
in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) at
SantaAnita in 2009 and finished fourth in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill
Downs in November.
Pashito the Che, a 5-year-old son of Flat-
ter bred by Mr. and Mrs. Leverett S. Miller,
was racing for the first time since finishing
last of 12 in the Breeders’Cup Sprint (G1) at
Churchill Downs in November.
Pashito the Che, trained by Scott Lake for
Tuna Stables and Off the Hook Racing, is a
five-time stakes winner, with his biggest vic-
tory coming in the $250,000 Gallant Bob
Handicap at Philadelphia Park in October
2009. He has eight wins and $537,670 in
earnings from 19 career starts.
Beautiful PleasureEuthanized
Florida-bred Beautiful Pleasure was
euthanized inAugust stemming from com-
plications from chronic laminitis. She was
16 years old and she produced her final
foal, a Medaglia d’Oro colt, in February.
The champion older mare of 1999,
Beautiful Pleasure was bred in Florida by
Farnsworth Farms and raced in the colors of
JohnOxley. She earnedmore than $2.7mil-
lion in a stellar career, winning 10 races, seven of them stakes, from 25 lifetime starts.
She captured five Grade 1 races—the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Beldame and Personal
Ensign in 1999 and the Personal Ensign and Hempstead Handicaps the following year and
was honored as Florida’s Horse of theYear in 1999 and 2000.
Beautiful Pleasure was a daughter of Maudlin out of the Baldski mare Beautiful Bid,
making her a full sister to Mecke.
Beautiful Pleasure winning the 1999Breedersʼ Cup Distaff
MIC
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Florida-bredBridgetown
Bridgetown Impresses in Troy Stakes
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16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Following are the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship ” Point Standings through September 7, 2011.
Year-end divisional champions will be determined using the “FTBOAChase to the Championship” point system, a ranking that awards points forsuccess in stakes races.
The “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” allocates points for stakes wins ingraded races,open-company stakes and Florida’s signature racing days,with thenumber of points awarded based upon the classification of the race. Internationalstakes race status is governed by the International Cataloguing Standards Com-mittee. The first three finishers in all Group/Graded and listed races appearing inPart I of the International Cataloguing Standards and International Statistics Bookprinted by The Jockey Club receive “black-type” designation.Ten point bonus tobe awarded to any 2-year-old colt or filly sweeping all three legs of the Florida Stal-lion Stakes in determining the Champion 2-year-old Florida-bred.
The Florida-bred with the most points in each division on December 31is deemed champion of that division. Horse of the Year, Broodmare of theYear and Breeder of the Year will be voted on by the FTBOA Board of Di-rectors and announced at the FTBOA’s annual awards dinner.
In the case of a year-end tie in points in any division, earnings will beused to decide the tiebreaker. — Points are assigned as follows:
� World Thoroughbred ChampionshipBreeders’ Cup Race:Win: 20 pointsPlace: 15 pointsShow: 10 points
� Grade 1 Stakes Race:Win: 15 pointsPlace: 10 pointsShow: 5 points
� Grade 2 Stakes Race:Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Grade 3 Stakes Race:Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Sunshine Millions(equivalent to a Grade 2 Stakes Race):Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Other Florida-bredSignature Race Days(equivalent to a Grade 3 Stakes Race):(The Florida Million, Florida Cup,Florida Stallion Stakes Series):Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Open-Company Stakes($50,000+Purse) Points for WIN ONLY:Win: 2 points
� Selection Criteria for Florida-bred champions
Two-Year-Old Colt/GeldingHorse Breeder Owner TrainerCurrency Swap (High Cotton) - 15 Stonecliff Farm Klaravich Stables Inc &William H Lawrence Teresa M PompayFort Loudon (Awesome of Course) - 6 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I GoldArgentine Tango (Black Mambo) - 4 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I Gold
Two-Year-Old FillyRedbud Road (Awesome of Course) - 7 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I GoldQueen Drama (Burning Roma) - 5 Harold L Queen Harold L Queen David FawkesCitizen Advocate (Proud Citizen) - 2 Peter Vegso Racing Stable White Hall Lane Farm David A Vivian
Three-Year-Old Colt/GeldingBrilliant Speed (Dynaformer) - 23 Live Oak Stud Live Oak Plantation Thomas AlbertraniCoil (Point Given) - 21 Glen Hill Farm Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob BaffertToby’s Corner (Bellamy Road) - 18 Dianne D Cotter Dianne D Cotter H Graham Motion
Three-Year-Old FillyTurbulent Descent (Congrats) - 55 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 29 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy TarrantR Heat Lightning (Trippi) - 10 E Paul Robsham Stables LLC E Paul Robsham Stables LLC Todd A Pletcher
Older Male (Four-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding)Teaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoFlat Out (Flatter) - 25 Nikolaus Bock Preston Stables LLC Charles L DickeyJackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 19 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P Zito
Older Female (Four-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare)Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook) - 25 Thorobeam Farm IEAH Stables,Whizway Farm, Robert Teel and Pegasus Holding Group Stables Richard E DutrowMusical Romance (Concorde’s Tune) - 16 Ocala Stud Pinnacle Racing Stable &William A Kaplan W KaplanBay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Adena Springs Robert Smithen Brian A Lynch
Male Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, race distances one mile and less)Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 17 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P ZitoTrappe Shot (Tapit) - 17 Hobeau Farm Mill House Kiaran McLaughlinApriority (Grand Slam) - 16 Donald R Dizney Donald R Dizney David FawkesAikenite (Yes It’s True) - 15 Brylynn Farm Inc Dogwood Stable Todd A Pletcher
Female Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, race distances one mile and less)Turbulent Descent (Congrats) - 40 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 29 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy TarrantAmen Hallelujah (Montbrook) - 25 Thorobeam Farm IEAH Stables,Whizway Farm, Teel, Robert and Pegasus Holding Group Stables Richard E Dutrow
Male Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, races run on the turf)Teaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoJeranimo (Congaree) - 17 Brylynn Farm Inc B JWright Michael PenderBim Bam (Deputy Wild Cat) - 12 J D Farms Chuck, Ella & Lou Hagaman Ron Moquett
Female Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, races run on the turf)Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Adena Springs Robert Smithen Brian A LynchRomacaca (Running Stag) - 9 Cashel Stud Inc Frank Carl Calabrese Nick CananiTrip for A.J. (Trippi) - 8 Peter Fuller Peter Fuller Milton WWolfson
ChaseToChampionship.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 10:06 AM Page 16
� Entry deadlineOctober 3, 2011
� Prepay by Friday September 23, 2011,and receive anearly booking discount!
� Call today for your contract.352.732.8858
Time to Act!
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
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18 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
By MICHAEL COMPTONThere were no disturbances for Florida-bred TurbulentDescent en route to earning her fourth graded stakes score in lastmonth’s Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
The daughter of Congrats, bred by Ocala Stud, crossed the wire3¾ lengths ahead of fellow Sunshine State product Pomeroys Pistolin the Aug. 6 fixture, but the overpowering manner in which shedispatched her seven rivals suggested a far greater winning margin forowners Blinkers On Racing Stable,William Strauss, David Aurelio, et al.
A $160,000 OBS April graduate, Turbulent Descent rated in fourth earlyunder regular rider David Flores. She advanced steadily to the leaderson the far turn and rolled past pacesetter Roman Treasure down thestretch, stopping the timer in 1:24.17 for seven furlongs.
“There’s not enough you can say—it’s a breathtaking race,” saidwinning trainer Mike Puype. “She’ll take on any horse out there at thisdistance. It puts her right to the top of the division. She’s the favoriteto win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.”
Turbulent Descent has now earned $828,350. Puype said that TurbulentDescent would return to her home base at Del Mar following the Testand likely won’t race again before the Breeders’ Cup Filly and MareSprint on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
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20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Florida-bred juvenileFort Loudon rallied for a victory in the
first leg of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder.Under Luis Jurado, Fort Loudon made a
strong, five-wide move and drew clear latein the stretch to win the Dr. Fager Stakes
by 1 1/4 lengths on a sloppy track.
Owned by Fred and Jane Breiof Jacks or Better Farm in Reddick,
the colt is by Journeyman Studstallion Awesome of Course
and is trained by Stanley Gold.
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 21
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�CRAIG BERNICKBernick took over as president and chief operating of-
ficer of Glen Hill Farm in 2008. He is owner Leonard
Lavin’s grandson. Lavin acquired the 400-acre farm in
1966, and the farm has produced numerous leading stakes
horses through the years. Glen Hill’s colors have been car-
ried by Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner One Dreamer, as
well as her sire Relaunch, and the likes of Top Rung, Star
of the Crop and many others.
This year, Glen Hill Farm is represented by Florida-
bred Coil, a son of Point Given bred by the farm, andwin-
ner of this year’s Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth
Park. Glen Hill Farm campaigns multiple 2011 stakes
winner Banned, who most recently won the Del Mar
Derby (G2).
Bernick is a formerAlberto-Culver executive and Tu-
lane University graduate who learned the Thoroughbred
business from Lavin, longtime Glen Hill farm manager
Hap Proctor and farm trainer
Tom Proctor.
Growing up, Bernick spent
holidays at the Ocala farm. He
attended races with his family
and always had a passion for the
industry. These days, Bernick
oversees Glen Hill’s far-reach-
ing racing operation—which
has divisions at Tampa Bay
Downs and Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Churchill
Downs,Arlington Park and this year at DelMar—and also
is in charge of the breeding division, which includes plan-
ning matings and buying and selling of horses at auction
and privately. Glen Hill breeds about 30 Florida-breds a
year at the farm.
� SHEILA DIMARESheila DiMare and her husband, Jim, have owned and
operated Rising Hill Farm in Ocala since 1985. With
Sheila serving as farm manager, the DiMares have de-
veloped Rising Hill Farm into one of the most success-
ful operations in the industry.
TheDiMares,who race under the name J.D. Farms, have
bred and raised approximately
30 stakes winners, including
Grade 1-winning millionaire
Captain Squire, recent turf star
Bim Bam, Florida-bred cham-
pion and Spinster Stakes (G1)
winner Plenty of Light, graded
stakes winners El Cielo, Light
Dancer,WiseAnswer, Dansetta
Light and many others.
The DiMares are consistently among the state’s lead-
ing breeders. They register between 45-60 Florida-bred
foals each year.
DiMare served as a director on the boards of Florida
Equine Publications Inc. and the Florida Thoroughbred
Breeders’ and Owners’Association. In addition, she has
served as vice president of the FloridaThoroughbred Farm
Managers and serves on the Marion County Extension
Equine ProgramAdvisory Committee and is on the Board
of RaceTrackChaplaincy ofAmerica Inc., Ocala Council.
�DIANE PARKSDiane Parks is a self-professed Florida farm girl, hav-
ing grown up on a cattle ranch in Ocala. Having been
around horses all her life, the transition to theThorough-
bred business was an easy one when she married her late
husband Scott Dudley in 1970. Dudley was the son of
22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
There are five (5) director vacancies to be filled in 2011.Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 1 of the FTBOA Bylaws,
the nominating committee recommended five (5) nominees for consid-eration by the board during its meeting on June 30, 2011.
After a review of the committee’s report, the board recommendedthe following slate of five (5) candidates: 1) Craig Bernick;2) Sheila DiMare; 3) Diane Parks; 4) George Russell; and
5) EddieWoods. Each candidate has agreed to run and serve as anFTBOA director. While the FTBOA Bylaws also provide for the nomi-
nation of candidates by member petitions, no such petitions were filed.As a result, the five (5) candidates named above for the five (5) direc-tor vacancies are unopposed, and no formal vote will be necessary.
FTBOA
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2011 Board Candidate BiographiesJack Dudley, who raced 1956
Florida-bred Kentucky Derby
winner Needles with partner
Bonnie Heath as D & H Stable.
Shortly after their marriage,
Scott and Diane Dudley moved
to Dudley Farm and took over
managing the operation.
After graduating from the
University of Florida with a de-
gree in education, Diane taught for 10 years at Forest High
School in Ocala. Shortly thereafter, she began helping
Scott manage Dudley Farm and it soon became a full-time
partnership.The commercial operation enjoyed substantial
success over the years.
The Dudleys were thrust into the limelight in the
spring of 1997 when Florida-bred Silver Charm, bred by
clients Mary Lou and Gordon Wootton and raised at
Dudley farm, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness
Stakes, while finishing second in the Belmont Stakes of
the Triple Crown Series. The Dudleys were great am-
bassadors for the Florida Thoroughbred industry, being
featured in stories in USA Today and during the ABC
coverage of the Triple Crown races. Diane is married to
Jerry Parks of Parks Equine Insurance.
�GEORGE RUSSELLBorn and raised in south Florida, George Russell first
visited the Ocala area in 1971. He and his wife, Karen,
were impressed with the area’s beauty, the slower paced
lifestyle and the many beautifully manicured horse
farms. In 1987 they purchased
158 acres on 225A and estab-
lished Rustlewood Farm.
Their initial purchase of
four yearling fillies from neigh-
bor Elmer Heubeck yielded
Rustlewood’s first stakes win-
ner. All Considered won the I
Guarantee Stakes at Gulfstream
Park and went on to produce a
number of winners for the Russells, including Consider
the Source, winner of the 2005 My Dear Girl Division of
the Florida Stallion Stakes.
In addition to these black-type winners, Rustlewood
has also bred, raised and/or raced stakes horses All Mi-
lady, All in the Book, Blue Pepsi Lodge, Inside Affair, as
well as multiple Grade 1 winner Chaposa Springs, Grade
1 winner You and I, Group 2 winner Distinctly North,
Grade 2 stakes winner Mach Ride and multiple graded
stakes-placed Pat N Jack.
Russell is the founder and current President of Russell
Engineering, Inc. He is a past Chairman of the Board and
current board member of the Florida Transportation
Builders’Association (FTBA). He currently serves on the
board of the FTBA Scholarship Fund and the Ocala Thor-
oughbred RacingAssociation.
� EDDIE WOODSEddie Woods, a native of
Meath, Ireland, made his way
to Ocala/Marion County in
1986, because, as he says, he
needed a job. At one-time a
steeplechase jockey,Woods es-
tablished the 240-acre Eddie
WoodsTraining Center in 1993
and since then has played an integral role in developing
some of the top racehorses in the industry.
Graduates ofWoods’ training program include cham-
pions Big Brown, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby
and Florida Derby, Commentator, Midnight Lute and Left
Bank. Recently, he is represented by stakes-winning grad-
uates Union Rag, winner of the Saratoga Special, Rat-
tlesnake Bridge, Midnight Interlude andWeemissfrankie.
Close to 200 head go throughWoods’ training program
each year and he also breeds a few Florida-bred horses.
Woods is a perennial leading juvenile consignor.
When the 2010 sales statistics were tallied up, Woods
was once again the leading juvenile consignor in North
America. To earn the spot,Wood sold 82 head for a total
of $8,662,200 last year. �FILE
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By JOANN GUIDRY
IntheThoroughbred industry, a good benchmark of suc-
cess is the number of stakes winners bred by a breeder.
For 2011, a quartet of Florida breeders are tied for the top
spot in that category with five stakes winners each through
Aug. 31. That elite group is comprised of Adena Springs,
Bridlewood Farm/Arthur I.Appleton, Live Oak Stud and Eu-
geneMelnyk.Taking it a step higher up the breeding success
ladder, Bridlewood Farm/Arthur I. Appleton and BryLynn
Farm are tied for the lead by graded stakes winners with three
each. It should be noted that BryLynn Farm has bred a total
of three stakes winners to date this season, all of them graded
stakes winners: Adios Charlie, Aikenite and Teaks North.
Just behind the top quartet, a trio of breeders has to date
posted four stakes winners each. Making up this group are
Gilbert G. Campbell, Jacks Or Better Farm and Ocala Stud.
Of these breeders, Ocala Stud is represented by two graded
stakes winners and Campbell by one graded stakes winner.
Here’s a look at the leading breeders of 2011 Florida-bred
stakes winners through the end ofAugust.
ADENA SPRINGSLeading theway forAdena Springs is Florida-bred graded
stakes winner Bay to Bay. The 4-year-old bay filly by Sligo
Bay (Ire) out of the With Approval mare Bala is having the
best season of her career. The turf specialist, raced by Robert
Smithen, captured the Nassau Stakes (G2) at Woodbine on
June 4. She bested Never Retreat by two lengths with Valli
With a Vow finishing third. Winning time for the mile on a
yielding turf was 1:36.48.
Five weeks later, Bay to Bay and Never Retreat switched
finishing positions in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) at
Woodbine. Bay to Bay finished secondwithMekongMelody
third in the nine-furlong turf test. Trainer Brian Lynch then
shippedBay to Bay to Saratoga.There she posted a good third
to Zagora (FR) in the Diana Stakes (G1) on July 30.
Onawin, twosecondsandone third in five starts todate,Bay
toBayhas banked $313,154.Thewin-
nerof the2009NatalmaStakes (G3)at
Woodbine and 2010 American 1000
Guineas Stakes at Arlington Park,
24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Special Status
Adena SpringsʼFlorida-bredBay To Bay,
Frank Stronach(inset)
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 25
Bay to Bay has career earnings to date of $641,161.
In addition to graded stakes winner Bay to Bay, Adena
Springs is to date also represented by Florida-bred stakes
winners Buff Daddy, Immortal Eyes, Royal Currier and
Sweet Gladys. In partnership with Gary L. Aiken, Adena
Springs is also represented by Florida-bred stakes winner
Callmethesqueeze.
Also by Sligo Bay (Ire), Buff Daddy won the Marquis
DownsHandicap.Veteran campaigner Immortal Eyes haswon
theWebbSnyderStakes,CharlesTown InvitationalDashHand-
icap, Chesapeake Stakes andWestVirginia Legislative Chair-
man’s Cup Handicap. Royal Currier scored in the Anderson
Fowler Stakes and Sweet Gladys won the Queen Stakes. Call-
methesqueeze notched a win in the Sweettrickydancer Stakes.
BRIDLEWOOD FARM/ARTHUR I. APPLETON
The legacy of the late Arthur I. Appleton, who estab-
lished Bridlewood Farm in 1977, is still very much evident
at the racetrack today. In 2011, Appleton is represented by
Florida-bred graded stakes winners Birdrun and Doubles
Partner. Bridlewood Farm is represented by Florida-bred
graded stakes winner May Day Rose, as well as by stakes
winners IndianAssault and Turbo Compressor.
Birdrun, a 5-year-old horse by Birdstone out of the Jolie’s
Halo mare Run Like Martha, scored a decisive upset in the
Brooklyn Handicap (G2) on June 10 at Belmont Park. Bir-
drun took the lead out of the gates in the 12-furlong test,
never to give it up.The Preston Stables colorbearer set cruis-
ing fractions of :24.81, :49.71, 1:13.88 and 1:38.21 to set
himself up for the win. Birdrun crossed the finish line in
2:28.24. He won by three and three-quarter lengths over
2010 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dosselmeyer withAlma
d’Oro in third.
In his previous race just prior to the Brooklyn Handi-
cap (G2), Birdrun has finished second by a neck to Dos-
selmeyer in the One Count Stakes at Belmont Park.
Birdrun also posted a second in the Greenwood Cup Stakes
in his next outing following the Brooklyn Handicap. To
date, Birdrun has banked $153,750 this season with career
earnings of $412,944.
A quartet of Florida breeders leads the way bynumber of 2011 Florida-bred stakes winners through August 31.
LEADING FLORIDA BREEDERSBy Number of 2011 Florida-bred Stakes Winners(Through August 31, 2011)� Adena Springs –5 � Bridlewood Farm/Arthur I. Appleton –5
� Live Oak Stud –5 � Eugene Melnyk –5 � Gilbert G. Campbell –4
� Jacks Or Better Farm –4 � Ocala Stud –4
LEADING FLORIDA BREEDERSBy Number of 2011 Florida-bred Graded Stakes Winners(Through August 31, 2011)� Bridlewood Farm/Arthur I. Appleton – 3
� BryLynn Farm - 3
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Florida-bredDoubles Partnerwas bred byBridlewood Farm
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Florida-bred graded stakes winner Doubles Partner
is by Rock Hard Ten out of Serena’s Sister, by Rahy.
Serena’s Sister is a full sister to champion Serena’s
Song. But the nameDoubles Partner is also a clever nod
to professional tennis champions, sisters Serena and
VenusWilliams.
Doubles Partner captured the second graded stakes of
his career when he won the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) on
March 19.The 4-year-old bay colt was a neck better than
Rahystrada withVoodoo Swinge third.Winning time on
the turf for the eight and a half furlongs was 1:40.67.
Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, Doubles Partner
also posted a third to Get Stormy in the Turf Classic
Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 7. The Todd
Pletcher trainee has earned to date this season
$140,470. The winner of the 2010 American Turf
Stakes (G2), Doubles Partner has career earnings to
date of $353,960.
May Day Rose, is to date a two-time Florida-bred
graded stakes winner, in 2011. The 3-year-old Rockport
Harbor filly began the season in winning fashion. On
January 9, she posted awire-to-wirewin in the SantaYs-
abel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. May Day Rose bested
Bluegrass Chatter by a length and a quarter with Scarlet
Starlet in third.Winning time for the eight and a half fur-
longs on SantaAnita’s new dirt track was 1:42.81.
Next up was a road trip to Oaklawn Park and a vic-
tory in the Instant Racing Stakes onApril 16. Carrying
the silks of owner Kaleem Shah, May Day Rose won
by three-quarters of a length over Hearts On Fire with
Dixie City third. She covered the mile in 1:38.25.
Back in sunny California, May Day Rose found the
winner’s circle again in the Railbird Stakes (G3) on
May 21 at Hollywood Park. She made it look easy,
notching a win by three and a quarters length over Big
Tiz with Pedaltothemedal third. Winning time for the
seven furlongs was 1:22.26
May Day Rose, who is out of the multiple stakes-
producing Pine Bluff mare May Day Bluff, has to date
this season earned $207,425. Her career bankroll totals
$331,980.
Also representing Bridlewood Farm are stakes win-
ners IndianAssault andTurboCompressor. IndianAssault
won the Lafayette Stakes at EvangelineDowns andTurbo
Compressor tallied awin in theCurlin Stakes at Saratoga.
LIVE OAK STUD
Grade I stakes winner Brilliant Speed is the star of
LiveOak Stud’s quintet of 2011 Florida-bred stakes win-
ners. Completing the group are stakeswinners IAmAwe-
some, Saintly Spirit, SlewsAnswer and Stradivinsky.
Raced by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation,
Brilliant Speed gained recognition in a big way in the
spring. After running his most recent races on the turf,
Brilliant Speed went off at odds of 19-1 in the Blue
Grass Stakes (G1) onApril 16. But he apparently took
26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
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Live Oak StudʼsFlorida-bred
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a liking to the Keeneland Polytrack, closing with a rush
to win by a neck overTwinspired. He stopped the clock
for the nine furlongs in 1:50.92.
Trained by TomAlbertrani, Brilliant Speed would
later post a third to Ruler On Ice in the Belmont
Stakes (G1). By Dynaformer out of the Gone West
mare Speed Succeeds, Brilliant Speed had earlier in
the season posted seconds in the Hallandale Beach
Stakes and Dania Beach Stakes, both on
the turf. His seasonal earnings to date total
$615,000 with a career tally of $640,750.
IAmAwesome, a 6-year-old gelding by
Awesome Again, won the Wheat City
Stakes at Assiniboia Downs and Marathon
Series Stakes atTurf Paradise. Saintly Spirit
won the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Les Bois
Park and Slews Answer captured the Vin-
ery Turf Classic Stakes at Tampa Bay
Downs. Stradivinsky, still going strong at 8, won the
Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes.
EUGENE MELNYK
Eugene Melnyk, who owns Ocala-based Winding
Oaks Farm, is represented by a pair of 2011 Florida-
bred graded stakes winners in Stratford Hill and
Tamarind Hall. In addition, he is also represented as a
breeder by Florida-bred stakes winners Bridgetown,
Clement Rock and Queen Street Beach.
Stratford Hill, who campaigns for Melnyk Racing
Stables, has posted four straight wins to date this sea-
son. The 4-year-old colt byA.P. Indy out of Harmony
Lodge, by Hennessy, got the skein underway with a
maiden win at Gulfstream Park on January 15. He
added another pair of wins at Gulfstream Park before
being shipped to Keeneland. In the Shakertown
Stakes (G3) onApril 16, Stratford Hill made it four in
a rowwith a half-length tally over GrandAdventure. His
winning time for the turf test over five and a half fur-
longs was 1:03.90.Trained by Todd Pletcher, Stratford
Hill has earned $158,880 to date this season.
Tamarind Hall made her stakes debut not
only a winning one, but a graded stakes
score as well.
In Belmont Park’s Bed O’Roses Handi-
cap (G3) on July 3, Tamarind Hall started as
a 15- longshot and finished as a graded stakes
winner.The 4-year-oldGraemeHall chestnut
filly took the lead at the quarter pole andwon
by five and a quarter lengths over Kid Kate.
Winning time for the seven furlongs was 1:23.82.
Originally raced by Melnyk Racing Stables,
Tamarind Hall was claimed twice, then sold privately
and now races for Eklektikos. Trained by Jeremiah En-
glehart, Tamarind Hall has seasonal earnings to date of
$149,580.
Bridgetown, Clement Rock and Queen Street Beach
all also race for Melnyk Stables. Bridgetown won the
Turf Dash Stakes atTampa Bay Downs andTroy Stakes
at Saratoga. Clement Rock tallied wins in the Charlie
Barley Stakes and Toronto Cup Stakes, both at Wood-
bine. Queen Street Beach scored a win in Woodbine’s
Deputy Minister Stakes. �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 27
Winding Oaks FarmʼsFlorida-bred Bridgetown
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www.facebook.com/thefloridahorseFlorida... the Best State for Business
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No tax on stallion seasons.No personal state income tax.
No individual capital gains tax.National leader in veterinary and equine research.
Ranked third in the U.S. for number of horses and size of horse industry.Feed and animal health items, along with other specific items, are also exempt.
Horses are exempt from sales tax when purchased from their original breeder.Florida’s greenbelt exemption provides property tax breaks for Florida horse farms.
Physical climate allows for year-round training, racing, showing and business opportunities.
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICESAdam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374
e-mail:[email protected] S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • [email protected]
From coast to coast,Florida’s tax-friendly, pro-business
environment is poised and ready toattract new companies and create
new employment opportunities.
GetOnBoard.qxd:Layout 1 8/10/11 9:42 AM Page 2
By MICHAEL COMPTON
The process of producing young racehorses can
take many turns. Just ask any breeder or owner
with lofty aspirations of stakes success.
From countless variables that influence breeding de-
cisions to inherent gambles and risks in the auction ring
and at the racetrack, the path to weekend glory is any-
thing but a straight line.
Don’t tell that to Florida breeders Fred and Jane
Brei and Harold Queen, though.Their respec-
tive operations obviously have a knack for
developing top juveniles, and that
point was driven home once more
onAug. 27 when their homebreds
Fort Loudon and Drama Queen
emerged victorious in the sec-
ond legs of the Florida Stal-
lion Stakes series at Calder
Casino and Race Course.
Jacks or Better Farm
and trainer Stanley Gold
are becoming synony-
mouswith juvenile suc-
cess. After launching
the careers of Florida-
bred EclipseAward win-
ner Awesome Feather and
multiple stakes winner Jackson
Florida breedersHarold Queen (left)
and Fred Brei
30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Florida breeders Fred Brei andHarold Queen capture top prizes on
Juvenile Showcase day at Calder
Formula for S
JOE
DIO
RIO
PH
OTO
Formula4Success_Showcase.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 2:58 PM Page 30
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 31
Bend at Calder in recent years, the combination is back
this year with another talented 2-year-old in Fort Loudon,
winner of this year’s Affirmed division of the FSS.
The son of Journeyman Stud stallion Awesome of
Course is now one step closer to a sweep of the series
when the final legs of the
FSS are held Oct. 15 dur-
ing Calder’s Festival of
the Sun. Jacks or Bet-
ter and Gold swept the
series in 2009 with
Jackson Bend and
the fillies division in
2010 with Awesome
Feather.
Fort Loudon’s victory, his third straight, has the team
eyeing sweep once more.
“You can pretty much be sure you’ll see Fort Loudon
in the In Reality (the final leg of the series),” said Gold.
Although it took Fort Loudon four starts to break his
maiden, he did so in spectacular fashion, crushing eight
others by 10 lengths. He followed that effort with a game
score over stablemate Argentine Tango in the Dr. Fager
division of the FSSAug. 6.
Fort Loudon raced close to the pace early in the Af-
firmed. He grabbed command at the head of the lane
and kicked clear of the field. He was kept to task in the
late stages and just as he did in the Dr. Fager earlier in
August, held Argentine Tango safe approaching the
wire, winning by two lengths. He stopped the timer for
the seven furlongs in 1:26.75. Gary Aiken’s Florida-
bred Kings Over, a son of Trippi, finished third. Gen-
tlemans Code, the early pacesetter, tired to fourth.
Success
see Juvenile Showcase next page
Formula4Success_Showcase.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 2:58 PM Page 31
“He ran the same race as last time except he sat a lit-
tle closer to the pace because he was sharper,” said win-
ning rider Luis Jurado. “That is a good thing since we
wanted to be a little more forwardly placed. I knew that
ArgentineTangowould be chasing us through the stretch,
but just like last time, we were able to out-kick him.”
Much like the Breis, Harold Queen’s breeding oper-
ation and trainer David Fawkes have been on quite a roll
in recent years as well with the likes of Florida-bred Big
Drama, the 2008 FSS champion, who would go on to
win last year’s Breeders’Cup Sprint (G1) and an Eclipse
Award as champion sprinter and his stakes-winning
younger brother Little Drama.
Queen’s homebred Queen Drama seems intent on
carrying on the family tradition of winning big races.
Big Drama’s half-sister by Queen’s stallion Burning
Roma, who stands at Rising Hill Farm, ran down Jacks
or Better’s Redbud Road to score a dramatic victory in
the Susan’s Girl division.
Just when it appeared Redbud Road, winner of the
Desert Vixen divisionAug. 6, was on her way to chalk-
ing up the Susan’s Girl division as well, Queen Drama
set sail after the leader. The two runners hooked up in-
side the last sixteenth of a mile and hit the wire together
in the most exciting finish on the Juvenile Showcase
card. The photo finish picture revealed Queen Drama
the winner by the narrowest of margins.AwesomeBelle,
a stablemate of the runner-up, finished third. Queen
Drama covered the seven furlongs in 1:27.16.
“She’ll go right into theMyDearGirl (the final leg of
the FSS for fillies) with no race in between,” Queen said.
“Fred Brei and I run into each other a lot in Ocala. We
have training barns next to each other at Nelson Jones
Farm.They’ve been tough to beat, but we got there today.
“It’s quite a family,” Queen added, referring to Big
Drama and Little Drama, who are out of last year’s
Florida Broodmare of theYear Riveting Drama. “We’ve
got a yearling filly, also by Burning Roma, coming up.”
Unlike her brother Big Drama, Queen Drama does
her best running from off the pace. She finished second
to Redbud Road in the Desert Vixen division, closing
fast from the back of the pack. It was that same late-run-
ning style that carried her to her latest win.
“This filly is a very strong finisher,” said winning
32 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
JuvenileShowcase
“You can pretty much be sure you’ll see Fort Loudon (below)
in the In Reality (the final leg of the series)”—trainer Stanley Gold.
JIMLIS
APHO
TOS
Formula4Success_Showcase.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 2:58 PM Page 32
rider Daniel Centeno, “so the farther we go the better
chance she has. I knew the favorite (Redbud Road)
would finish well too, so I just stayed right behind her
and when Saez moved at the three-eighths pole I had to
follow them. I would have preferred to wait a little
longer, but like I said, she’s a strong finisher.”
Queen purchased Riveting Drama for $36,000 at the
1996 OBSMarch juvenile sale. She never raced, but has
made up for it in the breeding shed. In addition to the
aforementioned stakes runners, she is also the dam of
stakeswinnerDrama’sWayand stakes-placedCoffeeCan.
Florida-breds alsomade their presence known in other
stakes on the Juvenile Showcase program. Florida-bred
Midnight Serenade proved much the best in the $75,000
Seacliff Stakes (includes $20,000 FTBOA Funds). The
son ofBandini hit thewire nearly three lengths to the good
of BurningTime, another homebred forQueen.Midnight
Serenade,who is not eligible for the FSS, covered themile
in 1:42.09. He is a homebred for Leanne Robbins.
“There’s a race for him here in threeweeks ($100,000
Foolish Pleasure Stakes),” saidwinning trainer SteveDi-
Mauro. “He’s a Florida-bred and the owner lives here and
likes to race here, so that’s probably they way we’ll go.”
Florida-bred CitizenAdvocate defeated fellow Sun-
shine State product Sweet andVicious by three-quarters
of a length to win the $75,000 Catcharisingstar Stakes
(includes $20,000 FTBOA Funds) at five furlongs on
the turf. Bred by PeterVegso Racing Stable, the daugh-
ter of Proud Citizen was claimed for $40,000 two starts
back and now races forWhite Hall Lane Farm.
“My dad’s got a great eye (for claiming horses),’ said
David Vivian Jr., son and assistant to trainer David Vi-
vian. “The sky is the limit with her. She’s very special.”
Frolic’s Revenge, appropriately enough, won the
$75,000 Lindsay Frolic Stakes (includes $20,000
FTBOA Funds). The winner’s dam, stakes winner
Stormy Frolic, is out of Lindsay Frolic, for whom the
race was named.
Under Juan Leyva, Frolic’s Revenge won the one
mile distance in 1:42.06. The Stride Rite Racing home-
bred is conditioned byMiltonWolfson, who has trained
three generations of homebreds from the family, in-
cluding Stormy Frolic and Lindsay Frolic.
“I prettymuch knew all along that shewanted the two
turns, but this was her first opportunity to try it,” said
Wolfson. “That’s theway hermotherwas, and turf will be
fine, mud even better. We’ll look at options, including
the Brave Raj Stakes (Sept. 17). It’s quite a family.”
Also on the program,Musical Flair, a son of Songan-
daprayer, beat Gil Campbell’s Florida-bred Martini
Madness in the $75,000 Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash (in-
cludes $20,000 FTBOA Funds). Musical Flair was a
$47,000 OBSMarch graduate.�
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 33
“She’ll (Queen Drama, above) go right into the
My Dear Girl with no race in between. Fred Brei and I
run into each other a lot in Ocala.We have training barns
next to each other at Nelson Jones Farm. They’ve been
tough to beat, but we got there today.”—Harold Queen
Formula4Success_Showcase.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 11:28 AM Page 33
By NICK FORTUNA
Fred Brei of Jacks or Better Farm in
Reddick has found great success in
recent years in Calder’s Florida Stal-
lion Stakes, having swept the three-race open
division in 2009 with Florida-bred Jackson
Bend and the three-race fillies’ division last
year with Florida-bredAwe-
some Feather.
This year, Brei has an-
other strong crop of juve-
niles who are cashing in at
Calder. On Aug.8, Florida-
bred Fort Loudon rallied for
a 1¼-length victory in the
$75,000 Dr. Fager Stakes,
the first leg of the open division, and
Florida-bred Redbud Roadwon by the same
margin in the $75,000DesertVixen division,
the first leg of the fillies’ division.
Both horses are trained by Stanley Gold
and were sired by Journeyman Stud stallion
Awesome of Course, who also sired Awe-
some Feather, the Eclipse Award winner as
the top 2-year-old filly of 2010.
The Florida Stallion Stakes are open to
juveniles sired by stallions who stood in
Florida during the 2008 breeding season, re-
gardless of where the foals were born.
In the Dr. Fager, Fort Loudon ran in fifth
place early under Luis Jurado before mak-
ing a strong, five-wide move
into the stretch and driving
clear late. He stopped the
clock for six furlongs on a
sloppy track in 1:13.55.
ArgentineTango, a son of
Black Mambo and another
homebred for Brei, closed
quickly to be second, 1½
lengths clear of For Oby, a son of Hartley/De
Renzo Thoroughbreds stallion With Dis-
tinction bred by PedroMaestre. Fort Loudon
paid $22.80 to win as the fourth choice in
the field of 11. The favored Boltzapper, a
son of Holy Ground bred and co-owned by
Chester Bishop, was fourth.
“I was concernedwhen (Jurado) took him
back off those horses that went to the front,”
Gold said of Jurado and Fort Loudon. “You
don’t know if they’re going to come back, but
he rode a good, heady race and deserves a lot
of the credit for thewin. (Fort Loudon) came
flying in the stretch but actually got bothered
by a horse that came out on him. That horse
(ArgentineTango) got shut off at the start, but
he came running too. It’s been a great day.”
Fort Loudon entered the Dr. Fager off a
10-length score in a $39,000maiden special
weight race at Calder on July 16. The colt,
out of the Talc mare Lottsa Talc, has two
wins from five starts for $77,580.
In the Desert Vixen, Redbud Road
moved swiftly from the middle of the pack
toward the front while going around the turn
and stuck his head in front at the top of the
stretch. She edged clear late under right-
handed pressure from jockey Luis Saez and
stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:14.46.
Redbud Road won as the favorite in the
field of eight. The filly, out of the Tactical
Advantage mare Ladyinareddress, has won
34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Fred Brei’sJacks or BetterFarm’s strongcrop cashingin at Calder
Brei’s Homebreds AreFLORIDA STALLION STAKES
FSS_2pages.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 3:42 PM Page 34
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 35
three consecutive starts after a second-place
career debut at Calder inMay and has earned
$138,605. Redbud Road owns two stakes
victories, having taken the $95,000 J J’s
Dream Stakes by half a length over another
Brei homebred,Awesome Belle on July 2.
Saez said he had his pick of horses for the
Desert Vixen, but the choice was obvious.
“I was very fortunate to have ridden four
of these fillies and won last time they ran,
but this filly stood out to me and was the
most impressive, so I stuck with her,” he
said. “She ran a perfect race but has a habit
of waiting on horses when she makes the
lead. I have to ride her hard in the stretch,
but that’s how she gets it done.”
Queen Drama, a daughter of Burning
Roma and a homebred for Ocala’s Harold
Queen, finished second, three-quarters of a
length ahead of Montessa G, a daughter of
Ocala Stud Farm stallion Montbrook and a
homebred forVirginia and James E.Gamble.
The Florida Stallion Stakes continueAug.
27 with a pair of seven-furlong races worth
$125,000 apiece – theAffirmed division for
males and the Susan’s Girl for fillies.
• Also on the FSS card at Calder,
Florida-bred Black Diamond Cat got his
second consecutive stakes victory, coming
from just off the pace to score by 4½ lengths
in the $55,000 Major Moran Stakes.
Black Diamond Cat has won three con-
secutive races, including the $75,000 Bob
Umphrey Turf Sprint at Calder on July 4, a
race he won by a nose after it was moved
from the turf to the main track because of
wet weather. For his career, he has six wins
from 27 starts and $187,684 in earnings for
trainer Larry Bates and Bluestone Thor-
oughbreds LLC.
Black Diamond Cat, out of the Miswaki
mare Sweet Glory, was bred by Mike Eck-
man and Mark and Debbie Ravenscraft. He
paid $12 to win as the fourth choice in a
field of eight. The 4-year-old, gelded son of
Journeyman Stud stallionWildcat Heir fin-
ished the 6½-furlong sprint in 1:18.42 with
Juan Leyva aboard.�
JIMLIS
APHO
TOS
Awesome, of Course
The 2011 Florida Stallion Stakes Schedule:October 15 - Festival of the Sun
$300,000 In Reality 2 year olds 8.5 furlongs$300,000 My Dear Girl 2-year-old fillies 8.5 furlongs
Journeyman Stud stallion Awesome of Course,sire of Fort Loudon (above) and Redbud Road(opposite page).
FSS_2pages.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 3:42 PM Page 35
36 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
StrongFasigTipton_SaratogaSale.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 11:44 AM Page 36
By MICHAEL COMPTON
In a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale bolstered by the pur-
chases of JohnFerguson, agent forSheikhMohammed
binRashid al-Maktoum,Florida-breds soldwell during
the two-dayofferingAug. 8-9.A total of
12 Sunshine State products changed
hands for a gross of $3.19million.
Over the sale’s two sessions, a total
of 103 yearlings sold for a gross of
$32.89million, compared to 118 head
sold at the 2010 sale for a gross of
$32.51million.The sale average was up 16 percent from
$275,551 last year to $319,340 this year. The median
price rose four percent to $250,000.
Ferguson signed for 13 yearlings
during the two days for $8.53million,
accounting for 25.9 percent of the
overall gross. Among his purchases
on the second night was hipNo. 130,
the top-selling Florida-bred of the
sale. The Bernardini colt sold for
$725,000 as property of Hardacre
Farm, Brookdale Sales, agent. The
colt is out of the graded stakes-placed
Unbridled’s Song mare Habiboo.
Other leading Florida-breds in-
cluded hip No. 80, anA.P. Indy colt
that brought $350,000 fromLothen-
bach Stables. From the family of classic winner and
champion Afleet Alex and Unforgettable Max, the colt
was consigned by Gainesway Farm, agent, and bred by
Donald Dizney.
Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds went to $325,000
for a Florida-bred Bernardini colt consigned by Kaizen
Sales, agent. Sold as hip No. 142, the colt, bred by Sally
J. Anderson and Darley, is out of the unraced Northern
Jove mare Jolie Boutique.
Hip No. 90, a Florida-bred by Hard Spun consigned
by Dapple Stud, agent, sold to Rabbah Bloodstock for
$290,000.Melodee Hicks’Hickstead Farm bred the colt,
out of the A.P. Indy mare Campionessa, a daughter of
Grade 1 stakes winner Pacific Squall.
During the sale’s opening session, six Florida-breds
sold for a gross of $1.16million. Bringing the highest price
in the opening sessionwere hipNo. 8 and hipNo. 48. Both
sold for $300,000. The former, a Malibu Moon filly bred
byPeterVegso and consigned byEaton
Sales, agent, sold to Ocala’s Glen Hill
Farm. The filly, named Biorhythm, is
produced from the stakes-winning
Citidancer mare Mystic Rhythms and
is a half-sister to stakes winners Mys-
tic Soul andMystic Chant.
Hip No. 48, a colt byTapit out of the StormyAtlantic
mare Storminthegarden went to Mark Johnston. Sold as
property ofWhisper Hill Farm LLC, Sweezey and Part-
ners, agent, the colt is from the family of Paradise Creek,
ForbiddenApple,Wild Event and David Junior. The colt
was bred by Bridlewood Farm.
Also selling during the first session was a $210,000
Florida-bred filly by Lemon Drop Kid, hip No. 24, con-
signed byTaylor Made SalesAgency, agent. Tory Chap-
man, agent, signed the ticket on the filly, who is out of the
Grade 2 stakes winner Queenie Belle, by Bertrando.
Named Beyond Belle, the filly is a half-sister to Breed-
ers’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1) winner Unrivaled Belle and
was bred by Gary Seidler andVegso.
Live Oak Plantation went to $200,000 for hip No. 79,
a Florida-bred colt by Candy Ride (ARG)—Atlantic
Frost, by Stormy Atlantic. The colt was bred by Bridle-
wood Farm.
Sheikh Mohammed purchased both of the $1.2
million sale toppers. On the first night, Ferguson
signed for hip No. 56, a son of Medaglia d’Oro
named Superfection. The colt is a half-brother to
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver and stakes
winner Brethren. Ferguson also signed for hip No.
114, a Bernardini colt consigned by Mill Ridge
Sales, agent. That colt is a half-brother to millionaire
Havre De Grace. �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 37
Demand forFlorida-breds strong
during Saratoga’stwo-day sale
Demand
Agent for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum,John Ferguson (inset) purchased the top-sellingFlorida-bred, hip No. 130, for $725,000.
PHOT
OBY
Z
PHOT
OBY
JOEDIOR
IO
FasigTipton_SaratogaSale.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 11:25 AM Page 37
By MICHAEL COMPTON
The opening session of the OBS August sale
provided buyers ample opportunity to acquire
select yearlings from a sale that has a proven
track record of success.
“I think it was a solid day,” saidTomVentura, OBS’s
general manager and director of sales. “I was pleased
with the good representation of buyers from all levels.”
The opening session grossed $4.18million from 110
head sold, down from the 135 horses sold in last year’s
select session for a gross of $4.83 million. The average
was $38,009, up six percent from $35,841 last year.
Themedian price was $34,000, a gain of 30.1 percent
compared with a $26,000 median price a year ago. The
buyback percentagewas 26.2 percent; it was 25.4 percent
last year.A total of 32 horses brought $50,000 ormore in
the sale’s initial offering, compared with 31 last year.
“Themedian pricewas up significantly from last year,”
Ventura said. “Without a breakaway horse in the session,
there was a lot of activity within the median range.”
Topping the select session at $110,000 was hip
No. 115, a Florida-bred daughter ofMidnight Lute con-
signed by Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent for Clover-
Leaf Farms II. The filly, who is produced from the
stakes-placed Gold Fever mare Wasted Wisdom, was
sold to SteveVenosa’s SGVThoroughbreds.The filly is
from the family of millionaire and multiple graded
stakes winner Desert Code.
The second-highest price of the daywas hip No. 118,
a filly byYes It’s True—Wildcard Cat, by Forest Wild-
cat, who went to Nick de Meric, agent, for $105,000.
The filly is out of a stakes-placed dam and is from the
family of stakes winner Clever Kat.
Earlier in the session, De Meric, as agent, also
signed for hip No. 30, a Florida-bred filly by Hart-
ley/De RenzoThoroughbreds stallion Belgravia out of
38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
AUGUST SALE
The saleʼs top sellerwas hip No. 115, aFlorida-bred filly by
Midnight Lute.
Average and Median
OBS_Aug_Wrap.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 2:42 PM Page 38
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 39
the StormyAtlantic mare Maggies Storm for $80,000.
The filly, consigned by Richard and LindaThompson’s
OakVale Farm, is a half-sister to Florida champion and
Grade 1 winner Comma to the Top.
“We were hoping for a little more for her, she’s
such a nice individual, but we’re satisfied,” said Oak
Vale’s Linda Thompson. “I understand she was pur-
chased for a racing stable. She’ll have a good shot.
We’re happy for her.”
Named Estreya, the filly is from a family of winners.
She is from the first crop of yearlings by Belgravia, a
black-typewinner of two races as a juvenile and a son of
Mr. Greeley.
The filly’s dam, Maggies Storm, has already pro-
duced Comma to the Top for the Thompsons. That son
of Bwana Charlie won last year’s CashCall Futurity (G1)
at Hollywood Park, the Generous Stakes (G3) on the
turf, the Real Quiet Stakes and was second in the Santa
Anita Derby (G1) for owners Gary Barber, Roger Birn-
baum and Kevin Tsujihara en route to his title as
Florida’s champion juvenile of 2010.
Some other notable purchases from the first day in-
cluded hip No. 61, a Midnight Lute colt that sold to
Patrice Miller EQB Inc., agent for $87,000; hip No. 65,
a colt by Flatter who also brought $87,000 from Buzz
Chace, agent; hip No. 169, a TizWonderful colt sold to
Buttonwood Bloodstock LLC for $82,000; hip No. 63,
a Florida-bred Pomeroy colt
that went to Dapple Blood-
stock for $80,000; hip No.
137, a Horse Greeley colt,
sold to Becky Thomas for
$80,000; and hip No. 163, a Florida-bred filly byWind-
ing Oaks Farm stallion GraemeHall, was purchased for
$80,000 by Ike and DawnThrash.
Average and median price improved during the first
open session as well. A total of 212 horses changed
hands during the first open session, grossing $2.63 mil-
lion, compared with 246 head sold last year for $2.34
million.Average price rose 30.4 percent to $12,430 from
$9,530 a year ago. Median price increased 38.5 percent
to $9,000, compared to $6,500 in 2010.
Topping the first open sessionwas hipNo. 459, a colt
by Lemon Drop Kid that brought $105,000 from Sal-
lusto/Albina, agent. Consigned by Beth Bayer, agent,
the colt is out of the stakes-winning Honor Grades mare
Secondary School.
Mersad Metanovic and trainer Jeff Bonde, agent,
went to $100,000 to secure the day’s second-highest
priced yearling, hip No. 383.The colt by Political Force
was consigned by Select Sales, agent.
The highest-priced filly and the top-selling Florida-
bred in the session was hip No. 180, a filly by Scat
Daddy named Gotta Love Gold. Consigned by Sugar
Hill LLC, agent, the filly sold to Sarazen Stable for
$68,000. She was bred in the Sunshine State by Emer-
ald Pastures.
HipNo. 537, a Florida-bred colt by Journeyman Stud
stallionWildcat Heir consigned by Summerfield, agent,
went to Vision Racing and Sales for $85,000 to top the
final session of the sale. The bay colt is out of TizWhat
ItWaz, by Tiznow.
For the two open sessions, 408 horses sold for a total
of $4.56million, comparedwith 475 horses that sold for
$4.13 million a year ago. The average price was
$11,182, up 28.4 percent from $8,712 in 2010, while the
median price of $8,000 rose 45.4 percent from $5,500
last year. The buyback percentage was 24.4 percent; it
was 25.1 percent a year ago.�
Linda and RichardThompson, AmandaThompson Gonzalez andGerado Gonzalez withHip No. 30.
RiseLO
UISE
REIN
AGEL
PHOT
OS
“I think it was a solid day. I was pleased with the good representation of buyersfrom all levels. The median price was up significantly from last year. Without a break-away horse in the session, there was a lot of activity within the median range.”—TomVentura, OBS’s general manager and director of sales
OBS_Aug_Wrap.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 2:42 PM Page 39
40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
DENV
ERPH
OTO
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By NICK FORTUNA
hen Coil bobbled at the start of last month’s
$1.02 million Haskell Invitational (G1) and
was the slowest out of the gate, even his
trainer, Bob Baffert, figured the race was lost. But with
a stirring run down the Monmouth Park stretch, the
Florida-bred colt earned his second graded stakes vic-
tory in thrilling fashion, besting Preakness Stakes (G1)
winner Shackleford by a neck.
Coil, bred by Ocala’s Glen Hill Farm, is a son of
Point Given, who won the Haskell in 2001 for Baffert.
The Hall-of-Fame conditioner has won New Jersey’s
biggest race a record five times, including with War
Emblem in 2002, Roman Ruler in 2005 and Lookin at
Lucky last year.
But this year, it didn’t appear that Baffert’s star colt
had a chance. He was last for most of the 11⁄8-mile race
as Joe Vann led the field of eight 3-year-olds through
a quarter-mile in 23.38 seconds and a half-mile in
47.02. The favored Shackleford, who stumbled at the
start, ran in second place, with Belmont Stakes (G1)
winner Ruler On Ice back in sixth.
As the field entered the final turn, jockey Martin
Garcia sent Coil after the leaders four-wide, with
Shackleford going three-wide to take over the lead
After a bad break from the gate,
Florida-bred Coil bests Preaknesswinner Shackleford with a determined
stretch run in the Haskell Invitational
Coil_Haskell.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 12:04 PM Page 41
from a tiring Joe Vann. Shackleford and jockey Jesus
Castanon had a half-length lead over J J’s Lucky Train
at the head of the stretch, with Coil close behind in third
place and unleashing a powerful kick.
Coil was five-wide at the quarter pole and dueled
with Shackleford down the stretch, prevailing under
strong handling in 1:48.20.
“He didn’t break well, and at that point I thought
the race was over,” Baffert said. “Down the back-
stretch, I thought he was going to have to be like his
dad, Point Given, to win. In the stretch, when he was
passing Shackleford, it was almost like I couldn’t be-
lieve what I was seeing. Martin (Garcia) knows this
horse. He knows him better than I do.”
Completing the order of finish were J J’s Lucky
Train, Pants On Fire, Joe Vann, Astrology and Con-
cealed Identity.
Garcia said he didn’t expect his horse to be last early.
“He was ready at the break,” Garcia said, “but just
before the gate opened, he stepped back a bit, and that
was that. I wasn’t planning on being that far back, but
once that happened, I didn’t have a choice. I took him
off the fence going up the backstretch because that
didn’t seem to be the best place.
“He was ready at the break, just before the gate opened, hestepped back a bit, and that was that. I wasn’t planning on
being that far back, but once that happened, I didn’t have achoice. I was sitting on a ton of horse turning for home. When I
got to Shackleford, my horse kind of waited. I knew I had Shack-leford, but my horse made it interesting.” —jockeyMartin Garcia
42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
In Haskell
Coil_Haskell.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 10:09 AM Page 42
“I was sitting on a ton of horse turning for home.
When I got to Shackleford, my horse kind of waited.
He tends to do that when he makes the lead. I just kept
getting into him. I knew I had Shackleford, but my
horse made it interesting.”
Castanon said he was proud of the effort turned in by
Shackleford, who has had a strong 2011 campaign, in-
cluding a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby (G1)
and a fourth-place run in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“I had a good trip,” he said. “He ran a good race,
like he always does. This is the way he likes to run. He
was sitting in a perfect spot. I was pleased with his ef-
fort. He gave me his best. When the other horse came
up to me, my horse felt him and was fighting back.”
Coil, owned by Karl
Watson, Mike Pegram and
Paul Weitman, has won
four of his six starts for
$748,560, including the
Haskell’s $600,000 first
prize. He made his stakes
debut in the Affirmed
Handicap (G3) in June, scoring a one-length victory,
and then finished second in the Swaps Stakes (G2) on
July 9, a head behind Dreamy Kid, after leading in the
stretch.
The Haskell was his first start on dirt and his first
race away from Hollywood Park. �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 43
DENV
ERPH
OTOS
The Haskell was thefirst start on dirt forFlorida-bred Coil.
Coil_Haskell.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 12:23 PM Page 43
44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
FLORIDANEWS
By NICK FORTUNA
Manicero took the shortest way
homeAug. 20 at Calder, surg-
ing along the rail while enter-
ing the top of the stretch and powering
his way to a five-length victory in the
$75,000 Naked Greed Stakes. It was the
sixth career stakes victory for the
Florida-bred son of Journeyman Stud
stallion Mass Media, who was making
his two-turn debut.
The Naked Greed was originally
carded as a 7½-furlong turf race but was
moved to the fast main track because of
wet weather and run at one mile. The race
drew a full field of a dozen 3-year-olds,
with four additional runners on the also-
eligible list, but after the surface switch,
only nine runners went to the post.
Manicero was the second choice in
the field but ran like an overwhelming fa-
vorite with Juan Leyva aboard for the
first time.
“(Trainer Leo Azpurua Jr.) told me
that he’s been wanting to get this horse to
go around two turns, suggesting that he
would do well, given his pedigree,”
Leyva said. “He was absolutely right be-
cause I had a ton of horse the entire trip.
This horse is a pleasure to ride. He lets
you put him in the race and relaxes when
necessary. I tested him going into the last
turn to make sure he had some run in him
before I put him up in a tight spot, and
from there, I just had to wait for my
opening.”
Manicero, bred by Gainesville’s
Roberto Sanson, has won seven of his 10
career starts and earned $324,008 for
Azpurua, who trains the horse for his fa-
ther, Leo Azpurua Sr.
Manicero got his first stakes win in
the $125,000 Jack Price Juvenile at
Calder in November and tallied three
times at Tampa Bay Downs in the
$70,000 Inaugural Stakes in December,
the $68,000 Pasco Stakes in January and
the $75,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Soph-
omore Stakes onApril 9. He also won the
$75,000 In Summation Stakes at Calder
in May.
Manicero had a rare poor perform-
ance in his most recent start, the $69,000
Unbridled Stakes at Calder in June, when
he finished fourth and was demoted to
sixth place because of interference.
None of those races was longer than
seven furlongs, but Leo Azpurua Jr. said
he was confident that his horse could
handle the added distance after watching
him win three stakes races at seven-
eighths of a mile.
“I felt confident that he would go two
turns because of the way he won his races
at seven-eighths and galloped out,” he
said. “I was really looking to try him on
grass, but obviously he’s good on dirt.
Not many horses have won six stakes
races by this time in their careers.”
Decisive Moment, a homebred for
Just for Fun Stables and a son of Hart-
ley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds stallion
With Distinction, was favored after win-
ning the $75,000 El Kaiser Stakes at
Calder on July 30. He’s won three of his
12 starts for $595,010. �
Manicero Rides the Rail to Sixth Stakes WinFlorida-bred colt wins by five lengths
Florida-bred Manicero winning theNaked Greed Stakes.
“I felt confident that he
would go two turns because
of the way he won his races at
seven-eighths and galloped
out. I was really looking to
try him on grass, but
obviously he’s good on dirt.
Not many horses have won
six stakes races by this time
in their careers.”—trainer LeoAzpurua Jr.
JIMLIS
APHO
TO
Manicero_FL_News.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 11:48 AM Page 1
CINDYMIKELLP
HOTO
� Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.FTBOA Annual Membership MeetingGolden Hills Golf & Turf ClubFor Information,Please Contact the FTBOA Officeat 352/629-2160
� Friday, October 14, 2011Annual Golf ClassicGolden Hills Golf & Turf ClubFor Registration & Information,Please Contact theGolden Hills Golf and Turf Clubat 352/629-7981
� Saturday, October 15, 2011Florida Stallion StakesMy Dear Girl
Florida Stallion StakesIn Reality
Calder Race CourseFestival of the SunFor Information,Please Contact Calder Casino & Race Courseat 305/625-1311
� Tuesday - Wednesday, October 18-19, 2011OBS Fall Mixed SaleFor Information,Please Contact theOcala Breeders’ Sales Companyat 352/237-2154
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION801 S.W. 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474352-629-2160 • Fax 352-629-3603Email: [email protected] • www.ftboa.com
AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1 9/6/11 11:29 AM Page 1
ByAMANDA ROXBOROUGH
Owning a race horse was once regarded as
an elitist privilege until the conception of
syndicates and multi-partner organiza-
tions in the 1960s. In the last few decades, many
top horses have been owned by syndicates or part-
nerships, notably the 2005 Epsom Derby winner
Motivator, 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny
Cide, 2008KentuckyDerbywinner Big Brown, as
well as stakeswinnersAwesomeGem and Florida-
bredAikenite.
To date, there are several hundred syndicates
ranging in monetary entry levels from hundreds of
dollars to hundreds of thousands dollars to get in-
volved.Though the structure of owning a race horse
varies in each business plan, Troy Levy’s Crown
Racing, based inCroal Springs, Florida, aims to in-
troduceThoroughbred ownership to the masses.
Crown Racing offers all the thrills of owner-
ship at levels to suit most enthusiasts.What makes
the partnerships different than many other syndi-
cates is that there are no monthly bills.
“It’s a one time investmentfor a lifetime of fun,” said Levy.
You may be wondering how this is possible.
Levy is dedicated to opening up theThoroughbred
industry to everyone, and as a proven horseman
and successful businessman, he has created what
he believes is a formula for success.
“My grandfather was passionate about Thor-
oughbred racing, and with my father I owned and
trained standardbreds. I have always been involved
at levels in the Thoroughbred industry and knew
that’swhere Iwas going tomakemymark,” he said.
“From a background of being a stockbroker, I
learned the benefits of investing in mutual funds
and diversifying your investment provided amuch
safer and enjoyable time investing. From that
thought process, I wanted to do that with theThor-
oughbred business,” he added.Troy Levy
C
ROXB
OROU
GHPH
OTOS
Thoroughbred
Crown R
46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
CrownRacing_TroyLevy.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 2:44 PM Page 46
Crown Racing’s one-time investment
business plan is based on a carefully struc-
tured formula of keeping the reserves for all
of the horse’s needs from purchase to racing.
“Becoming an owner in Crown Racing is
attained by purchasing units, each valued at
$10,000,” Levy said. “There is the option to
purchase a percentage of a unit or as many
units as you like. This makes you a lifetime
owner in Crown Racing and the whole sta-
ble of horses, not just a share in one indi-
vidual horse.”
The opportunity to own multiple or even
a barn full of horses compared to a small per-
centage is what Crown Racing is bringing to
life for every horse racing enthusiast that has
sights on becoming an owner.
“What makes Crown Racing different
from other syndicates and partnerships is the
fact that we aren’t just having to cover the
purchase andmanagement costs and settling
at that as a profitable goal for the business,”
said Levy. “We have to make sure all the
horses are profitable and racing at competi-
tive levels where they can win. It’s the whole
company that has to be profitable.”
The team that Levy has put together is
based on what is most important to him; in-
tegrity for the horse and the owners of Crown
Racing. As a horseman himself, Levy has
worked hard to build a level of trust and ded-
ication within his team to commit to the
owners of the stable.
“They’re getting a management team that
is going to teach them
about the Thorough-
bred business, but at
the same time they’re
going to only have the
upside of being an
owner. They can enjoy
it from the minute they
start participating in
the sport. The integrity of the purchase of
the racehorse is second to none. There is no
mark up on purchases, no monthly bills, so
it is the truest form of ownership.”
Levy encourages each partner to come out
to thebarns aswell as the races to trulyget close
towhatmatters themost, the love of the horse.
One of Crown Racing’s teammembers is
trainer Chuck Simon.
“I highly recommend Crown Racing’s
program to all owners, both new and people
who are currently in the industry,” Simon
said. “The number one reason why is you’re
going to have multiple horses running, and
that’s a big positive factor compared to just
owning one horse.With Crown Racing, you
can have a good shot at having a runner
quite often, and let’s face it, that’s why you
own a race horse.We want people to get the
positives and benefits of being an owner. I
really like Troy’s concept of everyone being
on the same team and all the owners and
trainers are in it together.”
A testament to Levy’s program is the at-
traction of long time horseman and owner
Pierre Levesque.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in
racing at the top level in the past,” said
Levesque. “I’ve had shares in Northern
Dancer, The Minstrel, the syndication of
Secretariat and L‘Enjolour. I got out of the
game, and now that I’ve met Troy, I’m back
in the game. His plan with Crown Racing is
why I got back involved. The cost is afford-
able for anybody and it’s going to be a lot of
fun. There’s a lot of action in Thoroughbred
racing and Crown Racing is helping to pro-
vide that to everybody.”
With the one-year anniversary approach-
ing, Crown Racing has proven its ability to
succeed in 2011, with two wins from 10
starts. The body of the stable is fast ap-
proaching their debutswith over half-a-dozen
highly regarded two-year-olds ready to run.
Levy is constantly building the stable and
doesn’t shy away from all avenues of pur-
chases to create a profitable portfolio.
“There’s only one goal for CrownRacing
and that’s to be successful,” said Levy. “Our
goal is to have a successful barn and get every
individual member of CrownRacing into the
winner’s circle as many times as possible.”�
“I got out of the game, and now that I’ve met
Troy, I’m back in the game. His plan with Crown
Racing is why I got back involved. The cost is affordable
for anybody and it’s going to be a lot of fun. There’s a lot
of action in thoroughbred racing and Crown Racing is
helping to provide that to everybody.—Pierre Levesque”
for EveryoneOwnership for EveryoneRacing:
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 47
CrownRacing_TroyLevy.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 10:12 AM Page 47
By DENISE STEFFANUS
Whole-body vibration therapy, the
latest buzz word in human fitness
programs, is now a trend in horse
fitness. But, in actuality, vibration therapy isn’t
new at all. In the 1960s, the Russian space pro-
gram employed it to increase bone density in
its cosmonauts to offset bone loss experienced
during space orbit.
Since then, dozens of research studies in
human medicine, mostly in Europe, have vali-
dated the ability of vibration training to pro-
mote fitness of bones,muscles, and connective
tissues, especially in elderly patients, those suf-
fering bone loss from cancer treatment, and
women with osteoporosis. Other studies have
documented improvement in athletic perform-
ance and promotion of a feeling of well-being
from the production of neurochemicals in the
brain during vibration therapy.
One of the principal researchers in human
studies, Clinton Rubin, Ph.D., a professor and
chair of biomedical engineering and director
of the Center for Biotechnology at NewYork’s
Stony Brook University, did some of his early
experiments in sheep. Rubin subjected ewes
to a gentle vibration to their hind legs for 20
minutes daily, five days per week, for one year.
At the end of the study, the ewes had about
30% more bone density in the treated legs.
Rubin’s work shows that the application ofextremely low-level, vertical vibration to ani-mals and humans increases bone formationand encourages stem cells away from fat andtoward bone. He believes vibration therapymay represent the much sought after “ana-bolic” stimulus in bone.Rubin also found that individuals who can-
not tolerate a typical exercise regimen maybenefit from low-level vibration therapy.
SCIENTIFIC RESULTSWhole-body vibration therapy has been
available commercially in Europe since 1994,with the bulk of the scientific investigation doneby Italian physiologist Carmelo Bosco, Ph.D.,who developed theNEMESplatform.NEMESis short for neuromechanical stimulation.Conditions treated in Europe with whole-
body vibration therapy are:
• Strength and power training for athletes;• Knee injuries involving the ligaments;• Back problems;• Osteoporosis;• Neuromuscular disorders;• Obesity (via hormonal effects)• Poor circulation, including symptomsof diabetes; and
• Incontinence.All the therapy entails is for the individual
to stand on the vibrating platform for about 20minutes per day as infrequently as three timesa week. For greater results, the individual canexercise on the vibrating platform, if tolerated.German and Russian elite athletes lift weightswhile standing on the platform to enhancetheir strength training.
48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Vibration therapy helps strengthenhorses’ bones, improve circulation,
and promote hoof growth
EquineCare_3pgs.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 1:00 PM Page 48
ADAPTING VIBRATION THERAPYTO HORSES
Horses, like humans, are subjected to vi-
bration therapy by standing on a vibration
platform for 10-15 minutes, several times a
week. The gentle vibration is thought to pro-
duce not only physical results in horses, but
it also seems to promote relaxation. Hu-
mans using vibration therapy report having
a feeling of well being after each session,
most likely due to an increase in the neuro-
chemical serotonin.
One of Rubin’s major discoveries is that
low-level vibration therapy stimulates the
honeycomb trabecular bone in the condyles,
the knuckles at the end of the long bones.
Condylar fractures are a significant cause of
catastrophic breakdowns in Thoroughbreds.
Normally, the horse’s body repairs tiny
stress cracks called microfractures during a
process called bone remodeling. But when
the body’s repair mechanism cannot keep up
with the rate and extent of the damage in-
curred, bone begins to fail. A regimen of
low-level vibration therapy during training
and racing could strengthen the condyles
and repair damage so they are more resist-
ant to fracture.
Vibration therapy also could be used dur-
ing layups to reduce loss of bone density and
during rehabilitation to rebuild bone strength
in preparation for return to training.
Low-level vibration therapy causes rapid
(30-50 per second) contractions of muscles.
These contractions promote blood flow,
which, in turn, promotes oxygenation of tis-
sues. Connective tissue also is stimulated by
these rapid muscle contractions.
Five to 10 minutes of low-level vibration
therapy can be used as a warm-up before
competition without sapping energy from
the horse’s upcoming performance, plus it
can promote relaxation to get the edge off a
jittery horse.
Prominent horsemenwho have used vibra-
tion therapy on their horses—California trainer
and bloodstock agent
Mary Knight, trainer
Carl O’Callaghan, and
top owner Bill Casner—
all have noticed that
standing on the vibration
platform enhances hoof
growth. Casner reported
that 2009DubaiWorldCup (UAE-G1)winner
WellArmed grew one inch of new hoof wall
during 61⁄2 weeks of vibration therapy.
Knight’s horse Super Strut, who started vi-
bration therapy with hoof problems, grew
1.34 centimeters of hoof in 30 days during
the winter, when hoof growth typically
slows to half its normal rate. O’Callaghan
claimed he could not have trained 2010
Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) winner
Kinsale King, who had quarter cracks in
three of his four feet, without the aid of vi-
bration therapy.
Hoof growth most likely is related to en-
hanced circulation. If so, low-level vibration
therapy also could benefit horses with chronic
laminitis and other persistent hoof problems.
EQUINE STUDIES NEEDED
Anecdotal evidence of the benefits of vi-
bration therapy in horses is convincing, but
no formal clinical studies to support this ev-
idence have been published. The benefits at-
tributed to horses are extrapolated from
human studies. Because each species is dif-
ferent, subtle differences in horses may exist
that need to be addressed to optimize the
benefits of equine vibration therapy and to
assure its safety.
Some questions these studies should seek
to answer are:
• Does vibration therapy cause the sameeffects in horses as it does in other
species?
•What is the optimum frequency and
amplitude of the vibration to cause an
increase in bone density and other ben-
eficial effects?
•What should the treatment protocol en-
tail—how many minutes per session
and how many sessions per week
would produce optimum benefits?
•Would its use be more beneficial aspreparation for entering training, an
adjunct to training and racing, or an
adjunct to layup and rehabilitation?
• Does it cause any adverse effects?Safety is another big question. On his
website at Stony Brook, Rubin discusses ex-
tensively the adverse effects vibration can
have on the human body. He writes:
“Please also note that our work has
brought us to this point following several
decades of searching for the mechanical sig-
Hoof growth most likely is related to en-
hanced circulation. If so, low-level vibration
therapy also could benefit horses with chronic
laminitis and other persistent hoof problems.
ANDR
EWWA
TKIN
SPH
OTOS
Well Armed (pictured) grewone inch of new hoof wallduring 6-1/2 weeks ofvibration therapy.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 49
EquineCare_3pgs.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 1:01 PM Page 49
nal to which bone is responsive. It is impor-
tant to emphasize that although this low-level
intervention is considered safe and beneficial,
other frequencies and amplitudes may cause
damage to bone and connective tissues, and
many amplitudes of vibration are considered
pathogenic to the musculoskeletal (e.g., ver-
tebral disc, cartilage, ligament, tendon), neu-
rovestibular, and cardiovascular systems. One
should always be concerned that ‘too much
of a good thing’ may be true in mechanical
stimulation, as well.”
These safety concerns also would apply to
equine vibration therapy.
FUNDING NEEDED
Studies of this nature are expensive. Not
only are a large number of horses needed, but
sophisticated imaging equipment, such as en-
hanced computed tomography (CT) and pow-
erful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
also must be employed to produce these an-
swers by detecting subtle changes in the study
of horses’ bones and soft tissue.
Public funding for equine research is a frac-
tion of what is spent for other species. A wide
disparity exists between the United States De-
partment of Agriculture’s $2.3-billion budget
for plant and livestock research—which ex-
cludes the horse—and the $3-million to $5-mil-
lion from various sources spent on equine
research each year.
Only through private support is equine re-
search able to promote the health and welfare
of the horse. �
EquineCare
BECOMEAwww.facebook.com/thefloridahorse • www.ftboa.com
Carl OʼCallaghan claimed he could not have trained2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) winnerKinsale King (pictured), who had quarter cracks in threeof his four feet, without the aid of vibration therapy.
50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
EquineCare_3pgs.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 1:01 PM Page 50
(ex•cel•lence) nounthe fact or state of excelling;superiority; distinction;
possessing good qualities in high degree.
Get noticed
For the fifth consecutive year,
Publisher: Richard Hancock • Editor in chief: Michael ComptonBusiness manager: Patrick Vinzant • Art director: John FilerAdministrative assistant: Beverly Kalberkamp
The Florida Horse is the official publication of theFlorida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Associationwww.ftboa.com • www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
352.732.8858
AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1 9/6/11 11:31 AM Page 1
52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEP-TEMBER 2011
This summerMarion CulturalAl-liance (MCA) added three more horses to
the herd for its public art project debuting in late September.
Sponsored by the FloridaThoroughbred Breeders’and Owners’Association,
Horse Fever - 10th Anniversary is a collection of life-sized fancifully painted horses created by local
artists. They will be on display from late September until March of 2012 at various locations in Ocala. Each
horse has his own corporate or private sponsor that pays for the cost of the project, and chooses the location.
The public is invited to an unveiling event featuring five of the new horses on the downtown square in Ocala
on Thursday, Sept 29 from 6-8 pm. The remaining horses will trot into place Sept. 28 and 29.A map is being cre-
ated by Blue SkyGraphic Communication and to be found on the website hosted by Community Sponsor Ocala.com
at Ocala.com/horsefever. Locations and photos will be part of a collectible tabloid insert to be published by the Star
Banner on Sept. 29, the day of the unveiling.
Added to the list of sponsors is Latinos y Mas, the future home of “Parrot-dise” by artist Barbara
Porzio. Goldmark Farm is sponsoring “Wildfire” by Nancy Ihasz, and Robert Boissenault Oncology In-
stitute recently selected “Mistaken Identity” by Gary Borse to round out the herd. MCA neared its goal of 30
sponsors, and has plans that will be announced later this fall for the remaining horse forms. MCA is thrilled at
the response for these sponsorships representing a diverse and generous local community.
The Horse FeverAuction will be held Friday, March 23, 2012 at Live Oak Plantation.�
Final Sponsors NamedFor Horse Fever
HorseFever.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 3:53 PM Page 52
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 53
TAMM
YPOR
TRAI
TART
.COM
PHOT
O
World ChampSponsored by FloridaThoroughbred Breedersʼ
and Ownersʼ Association
Painted by Sharon Crute
HorseFever.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 3:54 PM Page 53
54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
On Aug. 2, the President signed the
Budget ControlAct of 2011 endingmonths
of difficult partisan negotiations with Con-
gress over raising the debt ceiling and avoid-
ing by only hours the first-ever default by the
U.S. on its obligations. Almost immediately,
Congress adjourned for theAugust recess and
went home to meet with constituents.
While a dealwas reached on the debt ceil-
ing that included steps toward debt reduction,
Congress and the President face much more
work before the country’s fiscal house is in
order. Everyone acknowledges this is just
“phase one.” There is no reason to think that
the subsequent phaseswill be any easier than
the debt ceiling negotiations. Indeed the ac-
tual tough decisions on spending cuts, tax re-
form, debt reduction and balanced budgets
are still ahead.
Under the legislation, the debt limit can be
raised by as much as $2.4 trillion through
2013, which should be enough to avoid an-
other debt ceiling battle until after next year’s
elections. The deal provides for $1 trillion in
cuts over 10 years to defense and non-defense
spending and requires Congress to at least
vote on a balanced-budget amendment.
The new law sets up a 12-person Joint Se-
lect Committee onDeficit Reduction, known
as the “super committee,” to be named by
House and Senate leaders. It will include six
democrats and six republicans, three each
from the House and Senate. The committee
will be asked to find additional ways to offset
$1.2 trillion in spending over 10 years and to
make legislative recommendations to improve
the country’s short- and long-term fiscal
health. The committee must release its leg-
islative recommendations to Congress by
Thanksgiving. That planwill be subject to an
“up-or-down” vote by the House and Senate,
meaning no possible amendments.
If the committee cannot reach consensus
on $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, or if Con-
gress cannot pass the committee’s plan by
Dec. 23, across-the-board cuts of $1.2 trillion
over 10 years, beginning in 2013, to federal
agency budgets will kick-in automatically.
They will be divided evenly between defense
and domestic programs, includingMedicare.
The intent is to make these automatic cuts so
distasteful that the committee will agree to a
plan and Congress will pass it.
There are no tax increases in the package,
but it is expected that the super committeewill
look at tax reform proposals that would close
various “loopholes” and provide additional
revenue. It is also expected that the democrats
will push for an end to the Bush-era tax cuts
set to expire at the end of 2012. So tax in-
creases are likely in the next two years even if
not specifically proposed.
Once the super committee is appointed, it
will meet over the next three months to try to
hammer out a plan to improve the county’s
short and long-term fiscal health. The process
to be followed, the committee’s scope,whether
it will select a chair or chairs, ask for recom-
mendations from Congressional committees,
hold public hearings or meetings, call upon
“experts,” etc. hasyet tobedetermined. Indeed
whether recommendations regarding an in-
crease in tax ratesor just “tax reform”
areon the table isunclear.Suffice it to
say thecommitteewill indeedbe im-
portant and powerful. Whatever the
process, any final recommendations
must have the support of at least
sevenof the twelvemembers inorder
to be sent to Congress for a vote.
The horse industry can be affected by all
of this. Obviously tax increases or closing so-
called “tax loopholes” can affect it. The 2008
change in the depreciation schedule for race
horses from seven to three years has already
been demogauged as a break for “rich race
horse owners,” even though it simply
changed the depreciation period to allow
owners to recover the cost of the horse over
the real period it races and involves a very
small amount of revenue.
Any cuts to the budgets of federal agen-
cies, such as the Department of Agriculture,
could affect the health of horses and the abil-
ity of the horse industry tomove horses inter-
state and internationally for sale, breeding,
racing, competition and recreation under fed-
eral protections.
Cuts in federal research involving equine
diseaseswould affect horsehealth. Reductions
in the funding of the Department of Interior,
Forest Service and other federal agencies that
maintain federal trails andnational parks could
affect the ability of riders to enjoy trail riding.
Tax reform, cuts to federal agencies, and the
elimination of federal programs face all in-
dustries, not just the horse industry. This is
what will make this process so difficult. The
horse industrymust ensure that any cuts or tax
changes do not unfairly affect it.
The next fiscal bump on the horizon is the
expiration of the continuing resolution that has
kept the federal government operating. Con-
gress has been unable to pass the various ap-
propriations bills for each federal agency for
several years. Last April Congress passed a
continuing resolution to keep the government
operating at current levels through September
30,2011. Thedeliberationsover that extension
almost led to a government shut-
down. Congress and the White
Housewent to the brink thenbefore
agreeing to various cuts to keep the
government operating.
Sept. 30 is just around the cor-
ner. Congress may simply extend
the continuing resolution for several months
to allow the super committee to do its work.
Or there may be another “food fight.” Some
are hoping that having just concluded a bitter
partisan battle, Washington will not have the
stomach to do it again so soon, particularly
with “phase one” of the Budget Control Act
already in place. But only time will tell.
Clearly the next phases of the federal ef-
fort to put the country’s fiscal house in order
will be critical. TheAmericanHorseCouncil
will be working to ensure that whatever
changes are made will be fair and equitable
and will not put the horse industry at a com-
petitive disadvantage.
HORSE COUNCIL NEWSDebt Limit Raised, Tough Work Begins
HorseCouncilNews.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 11:39 AM Page 54
There is so much information (and
misinformation) about farmmanage-
ment, how to protect our water and be
environmentally responsible, as well as sites
providing tips about how to save
money while doing things “right”,
that I thought I would take some
time to pass along many of the dif-
ferent web sites I visit regularly and
explain a bit about each so that they
may be of help to you.
Let’s start with something simple
like pasture and weed management.
•http://weedext.ifas.ufl.edu/UF/IFASWeed Science. This is an outstand-
ing web site which offers many recommen-
dations for controlling weeds, essential for
keeping your pastures weed free so grass can
have the ability to grow and thrive.
SOME OTHER UNIVERSITY OFFLORIDA SITES:
•http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/ILWTL1.pdfLivestockWaste Testing Lab. If anyone ever
has an interest in getting the manure you
spread on your farm tested (so you knowwhat
nutrients are being added to your property),
this site will explain how to do it andwhere to
send the manure to be tested.
•http://www.extension.org/animal_ma-nure_management ManureManagement (on
a national level). This is a great page because
it gives all types of information on topics
ranging from beginning farmers to manure
storage to manure treatment technologies
(like vermicomposting, standard composting
and anaerobic digestion, to name a few).
http://www.extension.org/ag_energy - Farm
Energy - Speaking of anaerobic digestion
and other manure to energy systems, this site
explores manure to energy and many other
“Ag Energy” subjects. Biodiesel,
wind energy, solar energy, effi-
ciency and conservation are just
some of the topics covered.
•http://web2.msue.msu.edu/ma-nure , then click on “publications”, to
find additional information on anaer-
obic digestion from other Extension
offices around the country.
•http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/Living Green:This deals with both rural and
urban ideas, with interesting topics on farm
energy types and sustainability. There is
plenty of information for communities and
neighborhoods as well.
•http://www.extension.org/main/commu-nities eXtension- resource areas, not just on
water quality, but all areas Extension offers
FINANCIAL RESOURCES:
•http://attra.ncat.org/farm_energy/farm_energy_main.php General Financial Re-
sources. This site gives lots of information
on federal incentives, tax credits, local audits
and more…
•www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill.REAP Program. For grants and loan guar-
antees focused on purchasing renewable en-
ergy and energy efficiency improvements.
•http://www.sare.org/Grants SustainableAgriculture Grants
•http://dsireusa.org/ Database of State In-centives for Renewables & Efficiency
ADDITIONAL SITES:
•http://www.sare.org/publications Watersavings. Click on “bulletins,” “topics,” and
then click on “natural resources/environ-
ment,” to get tips on water quality and smart
water use for your farm.
SOLAR AND ENERGY AUDITS:
•https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farm_en-ergy/studies/water_pumping.html SolarWa-
tering systems for animals. A good site to
learn about solar water pumps for animal wa-
tering systems.
•http://www.energysavers.gov/ Energysavings and audits. There are many great en-
ergy saving and water conservation and pro-
tection tips here. You can also click on “Your
workplace”, then on “Farms and Ranches” to
get some great tips on being more energy ef-
ficient, and saving money on the farm.
I hope these suggestions give you some
useful tips for web sites to utilize when look-
ing to find answers or getting ideas and mak-
ing discoveries towards some of your farming
issues. Certainly, contacting your local Ex-
tension Office is a great way to get help for
many questions, ranging from pasture main-
tenance and manure management to equine
health and breeding issues. As always, keep
up the good management practices!
JamieA. Cohen
FARM MANAGEMENT
by Jamie Cohen,Farm Outreach
Coordinator
Links andWeb Sites Good forEarth,Water andYour Pocketbook
web sites may be of help for pasture management and your wallet
Schedule a Farm Call:
Jamie A. Cohen/Farm Outreach CoordinatorUF IFAS/Marion County Extension Service352-671-8792 • [email protected]
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 55
Cohen_FarmManagement.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 12:12 PM Page 1
56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Molly Braswell of Ocala, Florida, is
celebrated her birthdayweekend the same as
last year, by besting 30 top competitors to
capture the ASPCA Maclay Regional
Championship (Region 3, the Southeast),
held during 2011 North Florida Hunter
Jumper Association’s Labor Day Horse
Show at the Agricultural Center in Green
Cove Springs, Fl.
Michael Rheinheimer designed a techni-
cal 12-fence first round course to aid judges
Patricia Harnois and John Roper in narrow-
ing the field of 30 down to onewinner –or in
this case a repeat victory forMolly Braswell.
“It was a good course, for me a little long
coming out of the first line, but otherwise I
was really happy with it.” Braswell said.
Braswell trains atTerrapin Hill Farmwith
her father, Bob Braswell and assistant trainer
Courtney de Hechavarria and has been part-
nered with the Elizabeth Dove owned El
Campeons Danish a little over a year.
Asked for some specifics, such as age on
her mount, Braswell giggled and said “I’m
not gonna tell you! He’s a Danish Warm-
blood and I love him!” A little encourage-
ment and compliments of their performance
brought out a confession from a proud
Braswell that this stellar gelding is twenty-
four years-old and in amazing form, and
keeping his stride.
From the 30 contenders in round one,
judges Patricia Harnois and John Roper
chose two groups to move into the “flat
phase.” The judges put them through the
paces, asking for riders to drop their stirrups
and proceed from a sitting trot to a rising trot
and finally into a canter. Deliberations began
as riders and trainers nervously awaited re-
sults. Many were surprised at the announce-
ment that the judges had requested
additional testing of six of the top 12 riders.
“This is just a special win this year,”
Braswell said.
Molly andDanish will take a small break
before the Indoor circuit- Harrisburg, Capi-
tal Challenge, andWashington International
on their trek to the ASPCA Maclay Cham-
pionships Nov. 2-6, at the National Horse
Show’s new home, the KentuckyHorse Park
in Lexington, KY.
Touted as the ultimate junior hunter ac-
complishment, the ASPCA Maclay Horse-
manship Trophy is the top award presented
to one rider age 18 or under who has com-
peted in a series of qualifying classes and
earned enough points to participate in a re-
gional contest. From each Regional Final a
percentage of all winners will advance to the
year-endNational Championships at the Na-
tional Horse Show in November where the
deciding Finals are held. Region 3-Southeast
includes athletes from Florida, North Car-
olina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Mary-
land. 2011marks the fifth year the Southeast
Regional Final has taken place in Florida.
Rhonda Mack from sponsor Jerry Parks
InsuranceGroup andKatieYoung represent-
ing the National Horse Show Association
presented the Champion and Reserve win-
ners with their respectivemedals plus a bevy
of other goodies provided by English Riding
Supply, The Gift Horse, and Horse & Ken-
nelWarehouse. Of course the winning horse
will enjoy a handsome embroidered cooler to
commemorate his part in this occasion.�
NEWS BITS
Ocala’s Braswell RepeatsAt ASPCA Maclay Regional
REGION 3 TOP 10 RESULTS1st Molly Braswell . . . . .El Campeons Danish2nd Emma Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Adonis3rd Hasbrouck Donovan . . . . . . . . . . .Wagner4th Meg O’Mara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fernleigh5th Liza Finsness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fedelio6th Lauren Biddle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lawando7th Landrie Folsom . . . . . . . . . . . .Weatherby8th Jacob Pope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sagaro9th Nora Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Undorado Tibri
10th Emily Rizzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Calinka
FLAS
HPOI
NTPH
OTOS
NEWSBits_Sept_USE.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 10:14 AM Page 3
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 57
By E.L. JOHNSON Ph. D.,Extension Horse SpecialistUniversity of Florida, Animal Science Department
Alarge percentage of horses do not re-
ceive what most hoof care profes-
sionals would classify as adequate
and proper hoof care.There are many and var-
ied reasons for this, such as lack of knowledge
of what is required, the inability to find quali-
fied personnel to do the work, the lack of fi-
nances to dowhat needs to be done, inattention
or forgetfulness or just plain lack of caring.
Some of these reasons are difficult to rem-
edy. However, there is no reason for an owner
not to have the knowledge ofminimumrequire-
ments for hoof care.There is much information
available, but it does need to be screened for ac-
curacy.Thereare lotsof articles that containmis-
information, are inaccurateor are incomplete. In
short, donotbelieveeverythingyouhearor read.
Act as if you were making an investment and
were expecting a good return—you are.
Hoof care should begin very early in a
horse’s life.Assuming there are nomajor prob-
lems, it is desirable to begin the hoof care pro-
gram at about onemonth of age.Many owners
have no problem with the concept of routine
vaccination anddeworming toprevent problems
but are quite willing to cheat on hoof care. The
best investment of hoof care dollars is early in
thehorse’s life.Manyproblematic situations can
be avoided and/or prevented by early interven-
tion. Like the commercial says, “You can pay
now or pay later.” The implication being that
routinemaintenance canbemuchmore cost ef-
ficient than waiting for potentially traumatic
events to occur necessitating that something be
done.Additionally, it reduces the chances that a
horse will not be available for its intended use.
After the initial trim, foals should be
checked monthly (preferably), but certainly at
intervals of no longer than six weeks. This
schedule should be followed for the first couple
years of a horse’s life. From that point on, the
schedule becomes dependent upon such factors
as how fast a particular horse’s feet grow, the
environment, where it lives (stall or pasture),
what the horse’s job is, and howoften the farrier
can be scheduled.
Some horses grow hoof rather rapidly and
somemore slowly.Horses vary in their ability to
deal with length of hoof and the accompanying
change of angle as the toe length increases.
Depending on what their job is, this may or
may not be problematic. However, the greater
the level of performance expected, the greater
the likelihood that the hoof care interval will
need to be shortened.
Corrective or pathological work will also
generally require a shortenedhoof care interval.
Amajority of horses will do well with a five to
six-week interval. No horse should go longer
than eightweekswithout at least being checked.
An important concept to grasp is to not evaluate
a farrier by the amount of hoof removed. It is
just as important to knowwhat hoof needs to re-
main. Having said that, it alsomust be said that
one of the greatest problems in farriery today is
the long toe-low heel syndrome. This certainly
impairs the abilityof ahorse toperformwell and
greatly increases the chances of soft tissue in-
juries as well as leading to arthritic joint condi-
tions. If the horse is not wearing shoes, it
predisposes the hoof to toe and quarter cracks
aswell aswhite line disease or seedy toe. Other
problems related to inadequateor improperhoof
care are abscesses, though corns and breaking
away large pieces of hoof wall that may require
reconstruction can also occur.
The easier part of this discussion is to de-
termine who should be involved in developing
and administering a hoof care program for a
given horse. It is of utmost importance that the
manager of a horse understands the farrier is
not responsible for the day-to-day hoof care
management of a horse.
Unless there are problems necessitating
more frequent contact, the farrier normally only
sees a horse once every five to six weeks. The
person responsible for the daily care of the
horse must be the one responsible for the deci-
sions regarding the daily care of the feet. Dif-
ferent horses have different requirements and
basically everything that happens or does not
happen to a horse has someeffect on the horse’s
feet, be it positive or negative. Examples of
things that may affect the feet are feeding pro-
grams, cleaning the feet, the environment the
horse is ridden or worked in, bathing, hoof
dressings, farrier care interval, and capabilities
and conscientiousness of the farrier.
The first factor wemight look at is the rou-
tine daily management of our horses. Hoof
moisture has a major effect on the quality of
horn of the hoof.More specifically, the concern
is vacillatingmoisture content of the hoofwall.
Extremes either way and frequent variances
cause deterioration of the hoof horn. Some fac-
tors that contribute to this condition are bathing,
wet/dirty stalls, dry bedding, standing in hot,
dry sand; tall wet grass and application of hoof
dressings and sealants.
Also affecting hoof horn quality is the feed-
ing program.Theproduction of quality horn re-
quires sound nutrition. Certainly not all horses
require additional supplementation such as bi-
otin, methionine and other compounds; how-
ever, there are many horses that exhibit
dramatically improved hoof hornwhen receiv-
ing such supplements.The key is paying atten-
tion towhat is occurringwith the feet to prevent
problems from developing.
The second area we need to consider is se-
lecting a farrier and allowing that person to do
the best job that they can. This entails many
things, beginning with providing adequate and
proper dailymaintenance.Youmust apprise the
farrier of your expectations of the horse and the
farrier.
At that point in time, all major parties, in-
cluding the attending veterinarian in many in-
stances, should get involved in determining a
proper hoof care regime.
Factors to be determined include shoeing in-
terval, type of shoes to use and any special
needs dictated by conformational or patholog-
ical problems. Beyond that, the rest lies in the
hands of the farrier and will be somewhat de-
pendent upon his/her capabilities and his/her
desire to provide the most optional care for the
horse allowed by theTEAM effort.�
Edited by UF/IFAS Marion CountyLivestock AgentMark Shuffitt
Total Hoof CareManagement
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING
Shuffitt_Sept.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/6/11 2:34 PM Page 1
58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
HITS, Inc. announced last month a
multi-year partnershipwithHRTV
and A Good Show (AGS) to
bring coverage of the 2011 Pfizer $1 Mil-
lion Grand Prix and other select competi-
tion from the national HITS show series to
broadcast television.
“This is an exciting partnership that
will, for the first time ever, bring both na-
tional and international coverage and at-
tention to a U.S. show jumping series,”
said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President &
CEO. “We believe that by working with
HRTV and A Good Show we will once
again raise the bar for American show
jumping and provide an opportunity for
the world to watch some of the best in
equestrian sport.”
In addition to the Pfizer Million cover-
age, this agreement will extend to include
coverage of select high-profile events
showcased at the 2012HITSDesert Circuit
in Thermal, California and the 2012 HITS
OcalaWinter Circuit in Ocala, Florida.
HRTV, the Network for Horse Sports,
is a 24/7 multimedia network dedicated
to serving the news, information and en-
tertainment needs of one of the world’s
largest, but most under served audiences
- horse fans. Leading with Thorough-
bred racing, HRTV also delivers pro-
gramming for virtually all equine
sports.
HRTV also features themost significant
and competitive contests in the English
world, such as Show Jumping, Dressage,
Eventing and Carriage Driving for each
year’s Aachen World Horse Festival, FEI
World Cup Jumping and Dressage events
and now, for the first time ever, the U.S.’s
HITS season finale with the Pfizer $1Mil-
lion Grand Prix.
“We are excited to be the TV outlet for
the high profile HITS series, beginning
with the September 2011 Pfizer $1 Mil-
lion Grand Prix,” said Jim Bates, Execu-
tive vice president and general manager of
HRTV. “This multi-year agreement as-
sures us that we can further fulfill our
commitment to serve the viewing needs of
horse competitors and fans, worldwide.”
Television and webcast productions of
the Pfizer Million, DiamondMills Hunter
Prix Final and the other select HITS com-
petitions will be handled by A Good
Show, creators of network and cable sports
and entertainment television. AGS’
Founder and Executive Producer David
Kiviat has produced and directed network
sports programming for 30 years, includ-
ing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in
Alaska, theTour De France, and horse rac-
ing’s Triple Crown.
“A Good Show is proud to realize our
long-time vision of a multi-year associa-
tion with HITS, bringing our experience
and innovation to launch this exciting,
new equine sports television series,” said
Kiviat. “HITS’ premiere show jumping
events are second to none, andAGS brings
the series to its perfect home HRTV, the
Network for Horse Sports, strengthening
global brand awareness through compre-
hensive distribution across all media plat-
forms.”
Kiviat and hisAGS team of producers,
directors, camera operators and editors
have a long history in contributing to
sports television. The team has worked
with major networks ABC, CBS, NBC,
ESPN, Versus and FOX.
Acclaimed voice-over talent, Mike
Moran has signed on to provide expert
equestrian commentary for both the Dia-
mond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final
and Pfizer Million. Aside from being a
professional trainer and horse sport ex-
pert, Moran has hosted and anchored nu-
merous broadcast sporting events and
been the voice of many national branded
ad campaigns for Sprint, Adidas and
Quaker Oatmeal.
Visit www.hitsshows.com
for more information.
HITS Joins Forces With HRTV
“This is an exciting partner-
ship that will, for the first
time ever, bring both national
and international coverage
and attention to a U.S. show
jumping series. We believe
that by working with HRTV
and A Good Show we will
once again raise the bar for
American show jumping and
provide an opportunity for the
world to watch some of the
best in equestrian sport.”—Tom Struzzieri,
HITS President & CEO
PAUL
APAR
ISIP
HOTO
NEWS BITS
HRTV_HITS.qxd:Florida Horse_template 9/8/11 11:49 AM Page 1
THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011 59
OurFall Farm Tour presented by Great Amer-
ican Insurance Group Equine Division is just
around the corner! Last year the event was
a sell out success to more than 300 equine enthusiasts
from across the state.
Through the help of The Sanctuary: Equine Sports
Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, several other area
farms and Great American Insurance Group Equine
Division, we are creating the same successes for 2011.
The Fall Farm tour serves as a fundraiser for the
Park, but equally as important, it brings new people
to Florida’s equine industry. This is essential expo-
sure our industry needs in
order to thrive.
Our 2010 tour brought at-
tendees to a variety of facili-
ties. Thoroughbreds, polo,
polocrosse and dressage were
all showcased to a captive and enthusiastic audience.
After the tour feedback indicated that participants ap-
preciated a program that was fun, educational and an
insight into farms they drive past on a daily basis.
Visitors were impressed with the quality and di-
versity of the farms they visited. We have designed
this year’s program to include racing, sport, working
and pleasure horse facilities in Marion County.
The Fall Farm Tour 2011 is an exceptional oppor-
tunity to spread the word about the strength and di-
versity of our equine industry to the surrounding
community.
As much exposure as our farms garnered from the
tour, the Park garnered equally as much by offering a
user friendly opportunity to experience horses. Many
of last year’s attendees have already made plans to
join us again on October 27.
In 2011, organizers brought more than 74 events to
the Park, spanning 117 days throughout the year. In
2012, we are excited to bring
you each of those events and
more as the Park continually strengthens and improves.
Part of the Florida Agriculture Center & Horse
ParkAuthority’s mission is to, “Make the land a hero.”
The Florida Horse Park Foundation is spearheading
this initiative, which will raise funds and serve to
maintain green space within the Park’s master plan.
Many individuals and organizations have already pur-
chased a Memorial Live Oak tree to be planted at the
Park, and includes an engraved granite plaque. Call
352-307-6699 ext. 8 for further details.
Join us this fall as we continue our progress at the
Park and through the community.
Happy Trails,
AnAnnual Success
Your FLORIDA HORSE PARK
Connie DuffWise
Chairman of the Board
Florida Horse Park
Florida Horse Park Fall Farm Tour 2011• October 27, 2011• Tickets: $50 each• Includes lunch, transportation and entertainment• Call 352-307-6699 ext. 6 to purchase Attendees at the
November 18, 2010Fall Farm Tour passthrough the CharlieHorse Farm Barn beforegoing out to watch apolocrosse match.
COUR
TESY
FLOR
IDAH
ORSE
PARK
YourFloridaHorsePark.qx:Florida Horse_template 9/7/11 3:47 PM Page 1
60 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through August 31, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Sires
WILDCAT HEIRLEROIDESANIMAUX GRAEME HALLNA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yo
Name Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Candy Stripes Stonewall Farm Ocala $3,480,652 78 35 4 6 4 $3,651,843 Animal Kingdom $1,904,900 7 $6,882 3 $53,500"
Wildcat Heir Forest Wildcat Journeyman Stud $3,037,651 160 72 6 9 1 $3,048,954 John Johny Jak $139,971 19 $28,200 16 $39,531"
Graeme Hall Dehere Winding Oaks $2,464,879 111 63 3 3 3 $2,468,673 Duke of Mischief $719,881 5 $17,600"
Strong Hope Grand Slam Winding Oaks $1,735,630 109 53 2 3 0 $1,831,545 Clement Rock $189,494 15 $10,740 4 $16,750"
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $1,745,906 173 71 0 0 0 $1,754,912 Dahlgren Chapel $93,120 37 $5,859 11 $19,836"
Montbrook Buckaroo Ocala Stud $1,735,476 77 37 2 4 2 $1,747,767 Tackleberry $599,667 5 $13,500 12 $35,142"
Consolidator Storm Cat Journeyman Stud $1,532,859 144 61 0 0 0 $1,723,956 Consolidator Joe $86,712 38 $5,932 6 $11,917"
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery $1,523,523 67 31 6 9 2 $1,622,661 Pomeroys Pistol $311,188 21 $18,522 17 $78,235"
Greatness Mr. Prospector Randolph Thoroughbreds $1,594,657 63 34 3 9 1 $1,594,657 Jenny's So Great $203,684 3 $3,567 1 $2,000"
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/De Renzo $1,567,643 103 43 1 2 0 $1,591,159 Decisive Moment $318,680 47 $17,434 38 $26,250
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through August 31, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Juvenile Sires
WITH DISTINCTIONAWESOME OF COURSE POMEROYNA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yo
Name Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
Awesome of Course Awesome Again Journeyman Stud $385,825 5 3 2 4 0 $385,825 Redbud Road $162,855 1 $10,000
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/De Renzo $193,738 29 9 0 0 0 $214,495 For Oby $39,712 47 $17,434 38 $26,250
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery $184,612 12 4 1 1 0 $184,612 Mel Beach $82,600 21 $18,522 17 $78,235
Burning Roma Rubiano Rising Hill $181,150 10 3 1 1 0 $181,150 Queen Drama $123,705 9 $3,022 6 $6,833
High Cotton Dixie Union Ocala Stud $163,669 20 6 0 0 0 $181,132 Tarpy's Goal $42,240 18 $15,456 23 $31,518
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $178,519 21 8 0 0 0 $178,519 Final Moment $26,230 37 $5,859 11 $19,836
D'wildcat Forest Wildcat Vinery $173,228 22 6 0 0 0 $173,228 Xunlei $42,000 28 $18,954 24 $31,279
Bring the Heat In Excess (IRE) Ward Ranch $151,155 9 6 0 0 0 $151,155 Firefall $37,843
Shakespeare Theatrical (IRE) Signature Stallions $105,619 7 3 0 0 0 $146,626 Shakespeare's Brew $41,013 14 $19,999 3 $78,667
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62 THE FLORIDA HORSE • SEPTEMBER 2011
Thegrainy black-and-white images that marked the
nascent days of televisionwere important towiden-
ing the popularity of racing in the early 1950s.
There was, of course, less competition for the public at-
tention. Even in the largest cities, not everyone owned a
television and viewers had few options. For the sports fan,
Friday-night fights, Saturday afternoon baseball or col-
lege football, depending upon the season, were staples.
The National Football League was a modest enterprise
and played all its games on Sunday afternoon.
Racing occupied an enviable position.Without compe-
tition during the winter months, when there was no racing
in the East north of Florida, the race of the week from
Hialeah Park was run almost in prime time, just before the
Saturday dinner hour in much of the nation. Images of
palms, sunshine and the nation’s best horses were wel-
comed in the absence of racing during the cold, dark
months of winter and set the stage for the Triple Crown.
For some young people, these broadcasts were an initial
exposure to racing and some of these became lifelong fans.
Those of a certain age will recall racing’s first media
star, Native Dancer, who was not only nearly invincible
but stood out through the worst of primitive television re-
ception because he was gray and launched overwhelming
runs from well behind the pace.
FromNative Dancer toTimTam, televisionmade stars
of horses in the ‘50s, a trend that continued through the
‘60s and ‘70s while people found their way from living
rooms to racetracks. But eventually, things changed.
A widening of the broadcast industry led to cable net-
works and literally dozens of options but leaders of the
racing industry failed to identify and embrace the poten-
tial of an evolvingmedium. Racing’s exposure contracted
to the point at which, in recent years, it has begun and
endedwith theTriple Crown and Breeders’Cupwith even
the latter – conceived with television a major component
in its success—lacking the wide exposure provided by a
broadcast network.
More than a half-century after the Grey Ghost of Sag-
amore provided the first example of television’s potential
to bring together a horse and a wide audience, broadcast
exposure of racing, or the lack thereof, was among a long
list of topics raised for discussion in Saratoga Springs,
N.Y. during the Jockey Club’s annual Round Table on
Matters Pertaining to Racing. A very expensive study
commissioned by the Jockey Club revealed, in short, that
lack of television exposure has contributed (with many
other factors) to racing’s decline.
There are obvious deficiencies in racing’s current expo-
sure on virtually all mass media platforms with the excep-
tion, perhaps, of the Internet.The relevance of the daily print
media is questionable andmost daily newspapers have all but
eliminated coverage of racing. Television Games Network
and Horse Racing Television, both dedicated exclusively to
racing and tied to advance-depositwagering platforms, have
very limited exposure.The sport lacks the equivalent of cable
channels dedicated to golf and automobile racing.There are
foodnetworks, cooking channels, shopping channels, ESPN
in dozens of versions and something for almost every inter-
est.But there is no racingchannel generally availableoncable
systems as part of basic service.
So, in recent years the major races for 3-year-olds run
prior to the Kentucky Derby have been denied television
exposure just as major races at other times of year have
been run in virtual television secrecy.
There are, however, green shoots on racing’s media
landscape. Coverage of weekend stakes at Saratoga by
NBC and Versus, which it owns, was sufficiently suc-
cessful to prompt the network to plan similar overage of
the fall meeting at Keeneland. Without NBC, races of
great importance run at Saratoga– theWhitney Handicap,
Alabama, Travers andWoodward – would have been run
in network television darkness. Instead, they were avail-
able in tens of millions of homes.
Social networks, message boards and other Internet-
based platforms – which amount to preaching to the
choir—have become increasingly important to racing but
no substitute for the power of television.After decades of
denial, the time has come for the sport to come to grips
with this deficiency. Lamenting the difficulty of appealing
to a new, younger demographic is no substitute for action
and to that end there is no substitute for television.
Exposure onNBC andVersus is a new beginning.A bit
– a lot – of nurturing and the facilitation of expansion can
only help raise the sport’s flagging public profile.Very late
is still better than never.�
PLAYER’S PAGE
by Paul Moran
Lamenting the
difficulty of
appealing to a
new, younger
demographic is
no substitute for
action and to
that end there is
no substitute for
television.
VeryLate isBetterThanNever
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