Page 16 - May 2008 The Game

16 The Game, May 2008
Gino Molinaro - Cont. From P. 15
Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
“Looking back on it now,” Gino says with a somewhat guilty laugh, “I was worried with 12 horses and now I have 102 horses!”
dosage reports. “It provides us with a lot more information than I used to have and if a mare is not compatible and the numbers are not favour- able with the stallion then we look for another stallion. I believe 150% in this system as a guideline. You wouldn’t drive to Chicago for the rst time without looking at a map!” laughs Gino.
said Gino with undeniable sincerity,
“This is how much faith I have in my breeding
Included in that current gure are 22 broodmares and 2 stallions which have resulted in all of his runners at the racetrack being home- breds with the exception of four two-year-olds which were purchased at the local yearling sale last year and Woodbine opening day winner, Caturiana, which he claimed.
system. I have faith that this system is a guide- line to produce a champion. My next big thrill will be the Kentucky Derby!”
“Everything I have is Ontario bred and I support the Ontario program by buying at the sales,” said Gino who went on to comment that he has only one frustration with racing this year, “I have 42 horses in training this year and only 10 stalls at Woodbine. It is frustrating.”
Gino decided to claim the stallion out of a $10,000 claiming race at Woodbine after Jim Bannon stated in his pre-race show that it wasn’t often that a million dollar horse was running for $10,000 claiming. Line of Departure was a $1 million yearling purchase who didn’t race at age 2 or 3 and despite not having a great career, his breeding was attractive.
Gino admits that up to now he didn’t have a strategy to his breeding decisions, “When we won the Queen’s Plate it was pure luck. But now we are breeding with guidelines.”
“I spend a lot of money on horses and mares. Now that I have a strategy on how to breed horses I gure that I am 68 years old and in the next four years if I don’t breed a grand champion or a Derby winner, I will pack it in.”
With the help of long-time acquaintance Catherine Pyman, Gino is breeding his horses scienti cally using nicks, roman numbers and
This year the majority of his mares (14) are being bred to his stallion Line of Departure, by A.P. Indy.
And after listening to the stories about his life thus far, you know that Gino is a man of his word.
Gino’s Kentucky Derby bound colt by Line of Departure out of Moonland Princess born Jan22. 1/2 brother to Molinaro Stables’ Queen’s Plate winner,
TJ’s Lucky Moon.
HBPA Ontario Update
HBPA Administrative Of ces: 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6V1 Phone: 416-747-5252
Report from the Executive Director
(L-R) Colt by Line of Departure; mare Moonland Princess; mare Rapid Approval and her Line of Departure Filly
If you have been following the HBPA of Ontario’s columns over the last couple of years, you will have certainly noticed that of the many issues that we face as an industry, the two issues that are close to our vests are 1) unlawful internet gambling, and 2) Canadian income tax laws with respect to the horse racing industry.
payment and requires nancial transaction providers to identify and block restricted transactions. With this action in US congress, offshore entities such as Betfair, have rightfully decided to avoid business with US customers. Similar action in Canada is necessary in order for us to continue the battle within this signi cant issue.
In concert with several other signi cant issues affecting the growth challenges of our industry, including the recent rule changes imple- mented by the Ontario Racing Commission, which we are currently addressing with our provincial regulator, the above two noted areas of concern are constantly affecting our industry in two distinct manners that continue to hinder our growth.
On the issue of our archaic tax laws as we all know too well, our current maximum deduction sits at $8,750 as a business loss. De- spite signi cant lobbying efforts over the last decade spearheaded by the Jockey Club of Canada, with complete support of the HBPA I may add, we have been unsuccessful with our government to revisit
On the issue of unlawful internet gaming through offshore sites, such venues are pilfering our revenue streams with no compensation to our industry whatso- ever. Recently, Betfair, an offshore entity, has announced that they are continuing to take bets from Canadians on horse racing without providing any compensa- tion to our industry whatsoever. We need to have both our provincial and federal governments take immediate action in order to stop this proliferation of unlawful illegal gambling on live horse racing. In the United States, continuing action is being taken with additional internet legislation which was recently introduced on April 11, 2008. Prior internet legislation toughened enforcement against oversees internet gambling operators through criminalizing their acceptance of payments from US customers. This legislation makes it illegal for operators to accept
the discrimination that we as owners in the horse racing industry have faced. To make matters even worse, recent enhancements to the US environment make us even less competitive today in our own marketplace. In February of this year, President Bush signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act which includes two tax incentives that would allow a much bigger write-off for horses and other property purchased. One incentive has increased the expensing allowance for horses purchased from $128,000 to $250,000.
HBPA Trainer Testing Schedule 2008
Applications for Trainer and Assistant Trainer testing are due two weeks prior to the test date. Only complete applications will be accepted. Applications are now available at the Woodbine HBPA Backstretch Of ce.
HBPA Trainer and Assistant Trainer Testing Schedule 2008:
May 28, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
July 9, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
September 24, 2008 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks
For more information contact the HBPA Backstretch Of ce, 416-675-3802.
Injury Report Reminder
The HBPA would like to remind all racetrack veterinarians to submit your Injury Reports to the HBPA backstretch of ces.
Shedrow of the Month
The winner of the Shedrow of the Month award for April is trainer Mike De Paulo and his crew.
Shedrow of the Month winners will receive a $100 cheque from the HBPA and another $100 cheque from Woodbine Entertainment Group.
Congratulations to Mike and his barn!
Skill Improvement Courses
Perhaps we here in Canada need some government of cial to champion a “Ca- nadian version of an Economic Stimulus Act” in order for Canadian business to compete internationally on an equal playing eld.
Keep on writing your local federal Members of Parliament until they get the message.
The HBPA will once again be hosting Skill Improvement Courses for horse- people at Woodbine and Fort Erie race tracks.
Practical; Anatomy and Physiology; and the Business of Horse Racing courses will be offered.
For more information contact the HBPA backstretch of ces at Woodbine and Fort Erie. Classes are scheduled to begin in May depending on interest and enrollment.
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