NEWS AND NOTES FOR JUNE 19, 2014
LSP RECAP
Last Saturday, Lone Star Park hosted the third running of the Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes, won by post time favorite Molly’s Honour, a homebred owned by Joey Keith Davis and trained by Karl Broberg.
With the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse, Molly’s Honour has bankrolled $150,728 in career earnings with a career record of 16-5-5-2.
The $50,000 stakes is named in honor of William S. Farish, owner of Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky and Lane’s End Texas near Hempstead.
In 2012, Mr. Farish pledged $150,000 in three annual $50,000 donations, to the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund, which was established by the TTA in 2005 to provide qualified TTA members and their children with monetary assistance to help meet annual college education costs.
On hand to make the winner’s circle presentation were several current and past TTEF scholarship recipients.
That evening, the TTA honored the connections of 2013 Texas Divisional Champion horses, as well as recipients of the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement Joe McDermott Jr. of Houston and Larry T. Smith (posthumous).
Fred Taylor Jr. of Fort Worth and Mark Martinez of San Antonio were co-recipients of the Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA Member of the Year.
The TTA Board of Directors met earlier that day and elected the following officers: President, Ken Carson; 1st Vice President, Hal Wiggins; 2nd Vice President, Mark Martinez; and Secretary/Treasurer, Phil Leckinger. Also elected to serve on the Executive Committee were John Adger, Heidie Maikranz and Bill Tracy.
PROMISE ME SILVER IN DEBUTANTE
Accredited Texas-bred Fiftyshadesofgold, by Valor Farm stallion My Golden Song, crushed the field in last year’s Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, and now Texas-bred Promise Me Silver, by Valor stallion Silver City is looking to give the Lone Star State another win. Good luck to breeder/owner Robert Luttrell and trainer Bret Calhoun on Saturday!
GRASSHOPPER HAS FIRST WINNER
On June 15 at Emerald Downs, J. C. Racing Stable’s Texas-bred gelding Forte Feroce, out of stakes-placed Dove Hunt mare Catarina Ranch became the first winner for Texas-based freshman sire Grasshopper. He won the 4 ½ furlong maiden special weight by 4 3/4 lengths in :51.78 on a fast track. Forte Feroce was purchased from Benchmark Training Center consignment for breeder Ed Few at the Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-olds in training sale in April.
MESSAGE FROM DRF CEO ON TAX REFORM FOR HORSEPLAYERS
Daily Racing Form reports that the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and key members of Congress recently delivered a letter to the Department of Treasury in support of an important tax reporting and withholding clarification for horseplayers. The change would minimize the effect of unfair, outdated and burdensome tax regulations that tie up millions of dollars in parimutuel handle on an annual basis. This is a significant issue to racing and to all horseplayers. Unfair takeout rules drain the sport of money and unfairly cause bettors to often pay taxes on a false basis because the total size of the bet is not considered by the IRS, only the part of the bet that yielded the winnings.
Thousands of individuals have signed a petition at Change.org to express their support for the tax clarification, with many more needed in support of a national regulatory change.
John J. Hartig, Chairman & CEO of Sports Information Group /Daily Racing Form LLC, says each of the following will benefit from the proposed changes:
1. A horseplayer who frequently places exotic wagers that potentially pay large sums.
2. A racetrack or ADW operator who may lose horseplayers to other forms of gambling that have more favorable reporting/withholding rules.
3. An owner who could benefit from elevated purse money as a result of increased wagering activity through a higher level of churn.
4. A breeder whose bloodstock values are aligned with the health of the industry.
5. A trainer or jockey whose compensation is tied to purse levels.
6. A sales company or consignor whose success depends on demand for racehorses.
7. A horsemen’s association executive representing your membership.
8. A fan who wants to see a thriving racing industry.
9. A member of a support industry whose livelihood is tied to horse racing and breeding.
NOTES: The Maryland Racing Commission has unanimously adopted the ARCI multiple medication violation point system… Breeders’ Cup has selected Keeneland as host site for the 2015 World Championships, with the event returning to Santa Anita in 2016 and moving to Del Mar in 2017.. The Breeders Sales Company. of Louisiana’s annual yearling sale is set for Sept. 23 at the Ike Hamilton Center in West Monroe…Texas trainer Christie Grisham was severely injured by one of her horses at Lone Star Park a few days ago and an assistance fund has been set up; for info, contact the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper at 972-237-1130…Come out to SHRP Saturday for a $15.95 Buffet in the Jockey Club and enjoy the simulcast of the Royal Ascot; gates open at 8am with the first race from the Ascot racecourse at 8:30am… Only 12 days remain in the LSP Thoroughbred meet, with racing now on Thursday, Friday, Saturdays for the next 3 weeks…Our condolences to the families of Ed Murray of Spur, and Lynn Ellen of Bryan, who passed away recently.