NEWS AND NOTES FOR JULY 25, 2014
TAHC UPDATE ON VESICULAR STOMATITIS
On July 10, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of two new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Bastrop and Travis counties in Central Texas. One is located two miles east of Webberville, Texas in Travis County and the other premise is located four miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County.
To date, 10 premises in seven Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Those counties include: Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop and Travis counties. Note: The Kinney county premise has been released from quarantine. The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine. Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed. There is no known exposure to other horses around the state, or at any equine events.
History:
On May 28, the TAHC announced confirmation of the nation’s first case of VS this year in horses in Kinney County, southeast of Del Rio.
Two cases of VS in horses in Hidalgo County in South Texas were announced on June 5th and 9th.
On June 17, two cases of VS were confirmed in horses in San Patricio County in South Texas.
On June 20, a case of VS was announced in a horse located in Nueces County, and on July 3, another case of VS was announced for that location.
Several states have provided the TAHC with information on enhanced entry requirements they are imposing on Texas livestock (including horses) due to the recently announced VS cases in Texas. For information about these movement restrictions, contact the state or country of destination and/or visit http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2014StateRestrictionsOnTX_VS.pdf .
For more information about VS, visit the TAHC’s brochure at:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_VS.pdf .
LONE STAR PARK WAGERING RECAP
For the period January 1, 2014 – July 13, 2014 as compared with the same period for 2013, Texas Racing Commission statistics indicate both increases and decreases in handle for Lone Star Park.
Live handle increased slightly (0.29%), with $13,693,728 wagered on-track as compared with 13,654,610 last year. Same-species simulcast wagering increased by 8.24%, from $52,627,138 to $56,961,568, while cross-species simulcast wagering jumped 15.38%, from $3,298,074 to $3,805,310. However, wagering on Lone Star’s exported signal totaled $31,194,178, a drop of 8.97% from last year’s $34,269,819.
UNTAPABLE TAKES ON THE BOYS FOR THE BIG MONEY
The Grade 1, $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth on July 27 features the remarkable filly Untapable, taking on male horses for the first time in her career – and she is the 2-1 favorite on the morning line. The daughter of Tapit has won her races this year by a combined 31 lengths, most recently winning the June 28 Mother Goose Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont park by 9 ¼ lengths. Undefeated this season in four starts for Winchell Thoroughbreds, the filly last tackled the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Haskell in the May 2 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) which she won by 4 1/2 lengths.
Not only could Untapable maintain her status as the top 3-year-old filly in the country with a victory over males, but she could earn her way into the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita. The Haskell is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event for the Classic division.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has sent Untapable to six wins from eight starts; he also trained 2009 Haskell winner Rachel Alexandra, who included that victory in a season that resulted in her achieving Horse of the Year status.
Good luck!
ARAPAHOE PARK INCENTIVES PAYING DIVIDENDS
Arapahoe Park is offering a new financial incentive to trainers through the Race-Day Medication-Free Incentive Program.
Launched on June 27, the program rewards trainers who win at Arapahoe Park with a horse void of any race-day medication with a $1,000 bonus per victory to be paid from a special fund created by Mile High Racing and Entertainment. The program encourages trainers to go beyond the letter of the law that permits only Lasix, phenylbutazone (“bute”), flunixin, and ketoprofen on race day in Colorado. The bonuses will be paid out at the end of the season that concludes Aug. 17.
“We’ve made the program available, and we’re happy to have some horsemen take advantage of it,” said Bruce Seymore, Executive Director of Mile High Racing and Entertainment, the parent company of Arapahoe Park. “We hope more people get on board with what we believe is the future of racing, and we’re going to expand it next year.
NOTES: Fiftyshadesofgold ranks #85 among the top 100 horses by N. American earnings to date…The TRC Committee on Rules will meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29 in Austin…The next regular meeting of the Texas Racing Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12 in Austin…Stall applications for the Retama Park Thoroughbred Meet (Sept. 5 – Nov. 29) are now available. If you have not yet nominated your horse to the El Joven or La Senorita Stakes, you can late nominate by payment of $500 due Friday, August 15th; each race has a $100,000-guaranteed purse, and will be run on Saturday, October 11th; see retamapark.com for details…Congrats to Accredited Texas-bred Halifax Flyer (Early Flyer – Halifax Rose), the winner of the $12,700 Texas Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes last weekend at Gillespie County Fair Grounds. Bred by Charles Eddy & Myra York-Eddy, the 6-year-old gelding was ridden by Francisco Perez, trained by Cary White, and is owned by Alvin Wong…The public comment period on pari-mutuel wagering on historical races ends July 27, so voice your support if you have not already done so.