CALL TO ACTION
The Texas Racing Commission’s proposed rules regarding increased annual fees for Class 1 racetracks and individual licensees were published in the October 6 edition of the Texas Register on pages 44 – 47. To review, go to: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/1006/1006is.pdf
We are urging all horsemen and women to write a letter in opposition to the proposed rules and send it to the Texas Racing Commission. All letters should be sent as soon as possible to: Texas Racing Commission Chairman John Steen, PO Box 12080, Austin, TX 78711-2080, or via email to: info@txrc.texas.gov.
AMERICAN RACEHORSE STALLION REGISTER
The deadline is almost here for the 2018 American Racehorse Stallion Register. Don’t miss your chance to promote your stallion to more than 5,000 horsemen around the Southwest and Midwest. Get more info here – http://americanracehorse.com/stallion-register/
2017 TEXAS HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME GALA
Retama Park’s annual Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala will be conducted at 5pm on Saturday, October 21st. Inductees include Steve Asmussen, O. C. “Preacher” O’Quinn, Steve Sexton, Johnny Trotter, and Terry Blanton, along with horses Creole Dancer and Ochoa. Call Ryan Grammer at 210.651.7045 for tickets.
PADDOCK FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLE
The Paddock Foundation is a 501c3 organization with a mission to ensure the lifelong welfare of the Thoroughbred horse. As such, The Paddock Foundation offers grants for other 501c3 organizations in Texas whose work complies with that mission statement.
- Funding priority is given to organizations or programs that are directly involved with:
Horse rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, foster care, placement or retirement and/or - Providing equine assisted therapies and activities to the public with special needs, including but not limited to those for individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, learning disabilities, life‐threatening and/or chronic conditions or illnesses, underserved, underprivileged or “at‐risk” youth.
Specific funding requests may be made for such items as horse feed, supplements, tack, equipment, veterinary, dental or farrier services, scholarships, riding equipment, and small capital improvements.
The Paddock Foundation will consider benevolent funding requests that are relevant to state and national equine issues, comply with the mission statement, and help multiple horses.
For more information, please contact Mary Ruyle in the TTA office at 512.458.6133
2018 TEXAS 2-YEAR-OLD SALE
Contracts for the 2018 Texas 2-Year-Old In Training sale scheduled for April 10 in the Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park will be mailing soon. The consignment deadline is January 15th.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF TEXANS
The Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund helps place young Texans on the road to success by providing grants and awards to benefit Texas Thoroughbred Association members and their children and further their educational opportunities. More than $310,000 has already been awarded through the TTEF.
Scholarship applications for the 2018-2019 school year are now available. Contact Mary Ruyle in the TTA office at 512.458.6133 for details.
NOTES: The TTA is currently accepting donated breedings to stallions for the 2018 season to be offered through our online auction. Contact Mary Ruyle at 512.458.6133 for details…Mark your calendars for the October 21 Roses to Ribbons event at Retama Park. Contact Tracy Sheffield at 512.395.5314 if you have a Thoroughbred looking for a new career…Congrats to TTA Life Member Hal Wiggins on being named Racing Integrity Officer at Oaklawn Park for the 2018 race meet…Laurel Park, through its AmTote International, will allow bettors to make tax-deductible contributions to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at self-service terminals using proceeds from their winning tickets… According to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released Wednesday by Equibase, wagering increased 3.67% to $2,948,806,926 in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the same three months of 2016. The average field size also crept up – just slightly at 0.46%, compared to the same time period last year. However, both race days and the number of races dropped during the same period.