Page 22 - September 2020

AQHA RACING UPDATE
“. . . I am still amazed and proud of the Association for its ability to maintain business continuity under these unforeseen circumstances.”
AQHA CONTINUES WORK
Even during COVID-19, we remain busy in the AQHA Racing Department. Since my last report, we have conducted the
Summer Racing Council meeting, during which the leadership made several recommen- dations regarding matters to be brought before the Executive Committee. Once the action items are considered by that tier of governance, I will be free to share the details with you.
AQHA Racing Challenge
We remain excited for the 2020 Bank of America Challenge Championships, which will be conducted at The Downs at Albuquerque.
We only have a few remaining AQHA Challenge Regional stakes where participants are seeking a slot for the Oct. 24 finals. What does remain uncertain is our ability to conduct the AQHA Racing Conference that typically accompanies the Challenge Championships. The Council has suggested that staff move for- ward making plans for a virtual event. Look for more information on that decision as we await the possibility of lessened restrictions, and final consideration by the Executive Committee.
When I think about how we are contemplating doing our Racing Conference virtually, and even how most AQHA employees have worked remotely through this pandemic, I am still amazed and proud of the Association for its ability to maintain business continuity under these unforeseen circumstances.
Recent Event: Quarter Horse Versatility Demonstration at Ruidoso Downs
In last month’s submission I spoke of the Quarter Horse Versatility Demonstration that would be conducted at Ruidoso Downs in conjunction with the three AQHA Regional Challenge stakes. A special thanks to Jymmy Kay Cox for doing barrels, Marisa French for performing a jumping demonstration, and to Josh Armstrong and his 10-year-old daughter Georgia for doing a freestyle reining presenta- tion. The event was very well received.
I think more jurisdictions should have the Race and Show components of their AQHA affiliate collaborate on demonstrations such as this. The crowd enjoyed it, as did people watch- ing the live feed online. The production elicits a better appreciation for our breed, and when able to highlight second-career racehorses, it puts a positive light on after-care and animal welfare. After all, these are indeed well-cared-for horses. If you are involved with track management or an AQHA affiliate, I will be happy to share suggestions with anyone interested on how to implement a program such as this at your track.
The Horse Racing Integrity Act
The Horse Racing Integrity Act appears once again to be gaining some momentum
in Washington D.C. Most of you have read my concerns of federal oversight of our sport. Know that I am staying involved and working very hard to protect our breed’s interest in the bill. We have a strategy to protect the opportu- nity to administer the anti-bleeder medication furosemide (Lasix) to our Quarter Horses, but it is too early to tell if such an approach will be effective. There are a lot of moving parts, and my endeavors will be steadfast.
ARCI’s Consideration of a Model Rule Regarding the Use of the Crop
The Association of Racing Commissioners International is considering revised verbiage regarding how a jockey can use the crop during a race. Your jurisdiction may have already adopted a more stringent rule. As your representative for our breed at these meetings, it is imperative that I point out that there are two different issues we must consider. First, our industry is under attack. Directly related to this ongoing battle is the fact that we have a perception problem regarding the use of
the crop. The activists inquire, “If a horse loves to run, then why must a jockey whip him so often?” However, as a horseman, I
understand that sometimes the use of the crop is necessary to keep a horse headed in a safe direction and to encourage him when needed. Additionally, given potential new limitations, I am concerned about how restrictions could impact the ability to qualify for the finals
of a race when our horses are separated by
a margin representing 1/1000th of a second. So, in short, I understand that the future of our sport relies on us rectifying our percep- tion problem and guarding the welfare of the horse, but I also want to make sure we don’t put such limitations on the rider that we then have unintended consequences for the own- ers – who are our industry’s lifeblood. I have visited with Jockeys’ Guild Quarter Horse representatives and have also been involved in discussions on the ARCI level.
Originally, there was a two-strike in succes- sion rule, then afford the horse an opportunity to respond, and not strike a horse more than six times in a race. The latest compromise that may reach the Model Rules Committee is that a rider can strike a horse up to three times and must then give them a chance to respond before doing so again, with no maximum amount of strikes during a race. We think this is a reasonable posi- tion. Know that it is an ongoing conversation, but if they land on the latter option, know that it could have been the first one – and encourage your jockeys to understand the big picture. We must send a message to the entire world that
we do, indeed, care for our horses. Even with a cushioned crop, the perception of horses being struck multiple times to enhance their perfor- mance is increasingly detrimental to the future of horse racing.
That closes my report. I continue to pray you are doing well and look forward to seeing you at any of the coming events that feature our beloved racing Quarter Horses. Even with the restrictions related to the pandemic, this is still my favorite time of year. Great horse sales, great races, and the opportunity to see great people!
September 2020
by Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
20 SPEEDHORSE September 2020