Page 58 - January 2017

2016 A YeAr In revIew
February 16
Texas A&M veterinarian Dr. Dickson Varner was awarded the David E. Bartlett Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Theriogenology (SFT) and the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT). Dr. Varner is a professor & Pin Oak Stud Chair of Stallion Reproductive Studies in the Department
of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (CVM) at Texas A&M. The award honored Vaner’s work in equine reproduction, which includes assisted reproduction, stallion fertility, and in-vitro preservation of stallion sperm. He played a crucial in starting the stallion reproductive studies program at the CVM, and his original research has helped position the CVM as one of the top research and clinical facilities for stallion reproduction in the world.
February 17
Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, announced that the track would cease operations at the end of the 2016 racing season. Horse racing began in Alberta in 1905. In 2015, the track ran five official Quarter Horse stakes worth $136,821 (US).
February 27
Rillito Park Racetrack began sending out a signal of its races for the first time in the track’s history. Rillito’s races became available on Dish Network Racing Package, Racetrack Television Network & advance deposit-wagering sites. General Manager Michael Weiss coordinated the move and University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) students produce much of the show.
February 28
After winning a maiden claiming race
at Louisiana Downs aboard MDA Miss Jess Roll, jockey Alfonso Lujan reached a milestone of 2,000 wins. Born in Pecos, Texas, Lujan began riding when he was 19. In 1997, he made his first official start and has since ridden the winners of more than $26.2 million from 13,554 starts. Lujan is one of
only 16 jockeys
to reach this
milestone.
February
February 18
In a 5-4 vote, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, an ex-officio member who usually does not vote, broke the tie with a vote in favor of repealing the Texas Racing Commission’s (TRC) endorsement of historical racing terminals, thus ending
a more than yearlong fight over the authority to add new gaming machines at horse and dog tracks. Racing supporters said this loss would probably “finish off ” the state’s horse racing industry.
February 29
Hialeah Park ended its 39-day winter Quarter Horse meet. Moonin The Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Your First Moon, First Down Dash) was named Horse
of the Meet after winning all 3 of his starts at the Florida track, including the $204,310 Hialeah Maturity & the $150,000 Sam Abbey Hialeah Invitational. Denis & Julie Schoenhofer were named the Leading Owners with 11 wins; Judd Kearl was the Leading Trainer with 39 wins; and Omar Reyes was the Leading Jockey with 43 wins.
February 23
A bill drafted by the Idaho Horsemen’s Coalition to allow
the state’s tracks to reopen their historical racing terminals and establish a new regulatory arm to oversee all electronic gaming in Idaho, failed to get a Senate hearing. The Idaho Constitution specifically permits pari-mutuel betting,
like the pooled betting on horse races, but not if it involves “any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of any form of casino gambling.”
February 25
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) approved a rule prohibiting the presence of clenbuterol in a Quarter Horse test sample.
Horses treated with clenbuterol must be placed
on the Veterinarian’s List and are prohibited from racing until the horse tests clear. The CHRB also announced that CHRB investigators would work with local law enforcement to identify licensees
who may be participating in illegal match races; and amended a proposal to change the state’s riding rules by cutting down a “multiple infraction window” for jockeys from 90 to 60 days, eliminating language that disqualifications could only occur if the infraction caused a horse to lose a placing.
56 SPEEDHORSE, January 2017