News and Notes for August 8, 2014

NEWS AND NOTES FOR AUGUST 8 2014

TRC DELAYS ACTION ON HISTORICAL HORSE RACING RULES, THEN CANCELS AUGUST 12 MEETING
The Texas Racing Commission (TxRC), which received over 13,000 comments regarding approving rules for historical racing terminals in Texas, did not put the issue on the agenda for its August 12 meeting.  Commission Chairman Robert Schmidt told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “Don’t over read it either way that it’s not coming up this month. We are trying to do our due diligence and be as open and transparent as possible. If you are going to take the time to write the Racing Commission, we need to take the time to read it.”

TxRC Public Information Officer Robert Elrod stated, “The Commission could take action on the rules at a later date, and it has the option to delay action until as late as December 27.” he said. “If the Commission takes no action by December 27, the proposed rules will automatically expire by operation of law.”

Then yesterday, Texas Racing Commission Chairman Schmidt canceled the meeting set for August 12, stating “The Commission has had several meetings in the recent past that were so short that they did not justify the travel burdens placed on the Commissioners and stakeholders and this agenda appears to be similarly brief.” The Chairman directed staff to review whether matters that are typically considered later in the year may be placed on the next agenda.

The Commission can still choose to move forward approving rules for historical racing at Texas racetracks at any of its meetings through December 27. So if you have not voiced your opinion on this important matter, please do so immediately.

TEXAS HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME GALA
The 2014 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala has been scheduled for Saturday, October 18th in the Showplace Pavilion at Retama Park. Inductees include Art Preston, Joe McDermott Jr., Cecil Perkins, Jerry Rheudasil and Leo Wood.

Individual tickets will be $125 and there are sponsorship options available. Contact Ryan Grammer at 210-651-7045 for details concerning the event.

RACING AT GILESPIE COUNTY FAIR THIS WEEKEND
Saturday has 10 Quarter Horse races and 2 Thoroughbred races for 3-year-olds and up: an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles and a 4 furlong maiden.  Sunday also has 10 Quarter Horse races and 2 Thoroughbred races for 3-year-olds and up: a claiming race at 5 ½ furlongs and a 6 furlong allowance race.  Post time is 1pm each day.

ACCREDITED TEXAS-BREDS IN STAKES ACTION THIS WEEKEND
Accredited Texas-bred Pure Tactics (Pure Prize – Dixie Tactics) is the 5/2 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Jess Jackson Owner’s Handicap at Santa Rosa on Saturday.  The 5-year-old horse bred by the late Don Eberts now races for Nita Winner, LLC and is trained by Doug O’Neill.  He will face 7 foes in the 5 furlong turf race.  With a career record of 16-7-2-2, Pure Tactics has amassed $261,011 in earnings.

Man of Stature (My Golden Song – Final Trick) will race in the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Stakes on Saturday after coming off a 1 ¾ length maiden stakes win at Lone Star Park on July 11.  The 2-year-old gelding races for breeders Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch and is trained by Bret Calhoun.  With odds of 4/1, he will take on 6 opponents.

Best of luck to our Texas-breds and their connections!

TEXAS A&M VET LAB NOW OFFERING EQUINE PRE-PURCHASE DRUG SCREENING
To better serve the laboratory’s large equine clientele, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station now offers an equine-specific drug screen for pre-purchase exams. Previously, veterinarians screening horses for tranquilizing or pain-relieving drugs when conducting a pre-purchase exam would note the tests needed on the accession form. Now, with one click, the veterinarian can indicate the necessary tests to satisfy a client looking to buy a new horse.

The screen assists the veterinarian conducting the pre-purchase exam by unmasking any drugs hiding the animal’s defects. A variety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antipsychotic drugs and antihypertensive drugs can be detected.

TVMDL runs the screen via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry testing. The cost is $72 for in-state clients and $144 for out-of-state, with a turnaround time averaging one business week. The slight delay and cost are minimal considering the average price of performance horses in today’s equine industry.

For more information on the TVMDL equine pre-purchase drug screen, contact the College Station laboratory at 979.845.3414. Visit www.tvmdl.tamu.edu for a complete list of test offerings.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR JULY SHOW ACROSS-THE-BOARD DECLINES
Equibase reports there were across the board declines during the month of July in racing economic indicators. Wagering in the U.S. was down 3.47% in 2014 as compared with the same month last year. Year-to-date figures were also down, 1.96%.

Purses for July 2014 fell 5.67% as compared with 2013, while year-to-date they decreased 1.31%.

The number of race days decreased this year, down 2.45%, compared to July 2013. Year-to-date, race days dropped 1.96%.

NOTES: Gulfstream Park will offer a record $11.25 million in stakes purses during the 2014-15 championship meet, which opens Dec. 6… Although a law allowing for account wagering went into effect two weeks ago in Arizona, the practice won’t likely be available to residents of the state until early 2015, since the Arizona Department of Racing is currently writing the regulations that will govern account wagering… Handle from Instant Racing (pari-mutuel wagering on historical racing) at Ellis Park in Kentucky has continued to climb, with the racetrack reporting nearly $4.3 million bet through the terminals in July, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, an increase of 70.4% from July 2013, and wagering was also up over $1 million from June 2014; Kentucky Downs also saw an increase in July, with handle up 2.14% ($27.04 million) from 2013… EquiLottery, a new game that would link state lotteries and pari-mutuel racing pools and split revenue between them will be introduced to the New Mexico Racing Commission at its Aug. 21 meeting…President Obama has signed into law an American Horse Council (AHC) supported bill, the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act, making it legal for veterinarians to provide the care necessary to horses away from their licensed place of practice and across state lines…Sustaining payments and late nominations for the El Joven and La Senorita Stakes to be conducted at Retama Park on October 11 are due by August 15th; see www.retamapark.com for more information.