Page 13 - January 2017

Adopting uniformity across jurisdictions would allow for horsemen to understand the rules more completely, as well as allow them to compete on a level playing field across all racetracks.
“The lack of uniformity of medication policy in Quarter Horse racing creates artificial restriction in the movement of the best of the best horses competing in the top races across states,” said AQHA executive vice president Craig Huffhines. “We are an international industry and, at least in our top five states
that attribute more than 75 percent of
Quarter Horse racing purse value, uniformity should be a priority. The lack of uniformity discourages investment in ownership and devalues the opportunity for our best genetics. We are hopeful that AQHA and our state regulators can collaborate in doing what is best for the industry.”
The group also discussed the adoption of breed-specific rules and discussed the penalties for horses with Class 1 or 2 positive tests and the possibility of reciprocity between states in recognizing said penalty.
AQHA also endorsed out-of-competition testing in all jurisdictions, including the use of hair testing.
“I was very pleased with how receptive each guest was to our individual topics, and the open dialogue that we shared,” said AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber. “We left the evening feeling like great progress was made in our efforts to partner with each commission and endorse positive change for the Quarter Horse racing industry.”
Less than sunny in the sunshine state
The Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association held its general membership and Board of Directors meeting Dec. 10, 2016, at John Shaw’s Pheenix Farm near Gainesville, Florida. Ron Smith was re-elected as president of the organization, Gary Walker was re- elected as vice president, and Snuffy Smith was elected secretary/treasurer. AQHA Executive Committee Member Butch Wise was re- elected to the FQHRA board of directors,
and Paul Blanchard, owner of The Downs at Albuquerque, was elected as a new FQHRA board member.
FQHRA will send out emails and a press release whenever the verdict arrives. We feel very good about racing at Hialeah in the 2016/2017 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2017. We have right on our side and right has served us well for many years now.”
“The maneuver to control their own horsemen’s group is just another ploy by the
track to end up with a stand-alone casino. This is another reason to have a strong horsemen’s group representative that is willing to take the time and go to the expense to defend the horsemen and
the intention of the legislature when it ‘coupled’ horse racing and gaming. The intention of the legislature, when it allowed the racetracks to add casino gaming to their pari-mutuel permit, was
to stabilize and increase the economic boost horse breeding provides to the agricultural economy
and the state’s economy as a whole. Several tracks around the country understand that the casino permit they own was only made possible by having live AQHA racing at the facility, however many tracks want to back out of the ‘coupling’ now that they have the casinos in place.”
“When the verdict is released, FQHRA will immediately go to work to set up a meet before the 2016/2017 fiscal year ends. Hialeah currently has a contract from FQHRA that is similar to the ones agreed to in the past seven years of AQHA racing in Florida. The contract before Hialeah gives the horsemen a 5 percent per year increase in purse money each year in addition to other benefits. This is a very important verdict not just for Florida, but for the entire horse racing industry.”
Visit www.fqhra.com for the latest from the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association.
Smith penned a letter to FQHRA members, giving an update on the current situation with Hialeah Park and court proceedings.
“The hearing was October 27,” Smith wrote in the letter. “The court reporter had 10 days
to get her transcripts in, the attorneys had 30 days to get their proposed orders in, and the judge is supposed to give his decision within
30 days after that. We don’t know exactly how they count the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, but the verdict should be in very soon.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 11
track chatter