Page 15 - February 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, February 2007 15
HBPA Ontario Update
HBPAAdministrativeOffices:135Queen’sPlateDrive,Suite370,Toronto,ON,M9W6V1 phone:416-747-5252
The off season allows us at the HBPA of Ontario to spend our time and energies on not only planning for the upcoming season, but it also allows us to play catch up by reading and investigating areas of interest that our industry has developed in the past year. We spend plenty of time reading white papers, strategic plans, committee recommendations, etc. etc. that relate to not only keeping our industry competitive, but also relate to ensuring growth by exploration of identifying areas of improvement. One such document that caught my interest was the “Recommendations of the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse” which was developed at a summit in mid October 2006 in Lexington Kentucky.
A cross-section of prominent participants from the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry participated in this summit and have drafted an action plan to potentially improve conditions in various facets of the Thoroughbred industry. The goal of the summit was to identify critical issues that affect horse health and/or shorten the career of racehorses and to develop action plans to address each issue. The action plan identified six specific areas:
Report from the Executive Director
create incentives for horses to stay in racing longer, especially geldings
7. Tracking the racing and medical records of the horse- the mandating of micro-chipping and a “medical passport”.
8. The inconsistency of racetrack surfaces - A racetrack surface examination and certification process. More racetrack surface research and workshops.
9. No national body to look at these issues on a daily basis- Appoint an existing organization or create a national organization to research, review and make recommenda- tions on all issues that affect the thoroughbred industry. This national group should be a “Think Tank” to conduct research and the development concerning an economic model of racing, new technologies, safety programs, continuing education, and other elements that could positively impact our industry.
In the end, these issues and the complexi- ties involved in their acceptance and imple- mentation within our industry is precisely what fuels our need for participation. It is without doubt, an exercise in mental calisthenics.
1.
Licensing - institute education and exam requirements for licensees
2. Racing Conditions/ Racing Office- increase race entries
3. Health and Medical Records- develop and maintain a health, medical and injury record-keeping system
per year; then, indicate what actions might be considered to reverse this trend. Although there were over 30 critical issues identified, the following 9 really caught my attention and desire greater dialogue:
1. Poor durability of the breed- create and publish a durability index relative to sires and maternal grandsires
2. Protect claiming horses- ability to void claims should the horse not properly finish the race
Education and
4. Shoeing and Racing
Surfaces- attend to the
negative issues surrounding hoof care/analyze safer racing surfaces throughout the country
3. Regulation of two year olds in training sales - conduct sales under rules of racing. Prohibit the use of anabolic steroids.
4. Some Trainers put horses at more risk than others - include horses that did not finish (DNF) in published trainer statistics
5. Continuing education to horsemen require continuing education for license renewal to combat the decline in horseman- ship
6. Few racing stars to create fan interest -
5. Research – development of a national injury reporting and surveillance system
6. Breeding Practices- encourage breeding of horses with longer racing careers
The participants were also asked to briefly describe the most important critical issues associated with the decline in the racing careers of thoroughbreds over the last 50 years in terms of fewer years raced and fewer starts
Executive Director Nick Coukos
2006 ROE’s are Now Due
Woodbine HBPA Backstretch Office Now Open
The deadline for submission for your ROE (Record of Employment) form is February 1 2007.
Under new pension regulations, individuals who do not submit or have missed two or more yearly ROE submissions may be removed from the plan.
ROE’scanbedroppedoffateithertrackofficeor mailed to the administration office:
HBPA Administration Office , 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370, Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6V1
For information call 416-747-5252
The HBPA Backstretch office at Woodbine is now open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm until racing begins when the office will then be open 7 days a week.
The Backstretch Office at Fort Erie is also closed for the season and will re-open on Monday, March 5, 2007.
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