Page 89 - January_2023

Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel announced the hiring of Bob Blackburn
seventh, it was another wire-to-wire win on Tee Mahtoo in a claiming race. Rodriguez
was the 2021 leading jockey by wins with 147 and 18 stakes wins and was ranked second by earnings with over $3.4 million.
positive and was isolated at his home along with 21 additional horses on the property. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is actively monitoring the situation.
FEBRUARY
YEAR in 202 REVIEW 2
as their Track Superintendent. Blackburn replaces Prairie Meadows Racing Hall of Famer Lamont Marks, who retired last year. Blackburn has extensive experience, with more than 30 years as a Track Superintendent. He has been a Track Superintendent at Bandera Downs and Manor Downs in Texas. He also worked at
JOCKEYS AND JEANS RAISES MONEY FOR PDJF
(Jan. 24) The Jockeys And Jeans Stallion
Season Sale ended with $72,450 raised for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). The sale is the only stallion season auction
that brings Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred stallions together in one sale with all proceeds going to the PDJF. Spearheaded by the efforts of G.R. Carter, sales in the Quarter Horse section of the sale totaled $44,450 while sales of the Thoroughbred seasons brought in $28,000.
“We thank all the season donors and buyers who once again proved that the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse community cares about those 60 catastrophically injured jockeys,” said Jockeys and Jeans president Barry Pearl. Since its inception in 2014 by a group of former riders, Jockeys And Jeans has raised close to $2 million for jockeys who suffered career-ending race injuries.
EHV-1 OUTBREAK IN CALIFORNIA
(Jan. 28) An Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) outbreak caused a 300-horse barn to be quarantined in San Mateo County. A 22-year-old Paint gelding tested positive for EHV-1 on Jan. 28 and was euthanized due to poor prognosis, with 18 additional horses testing positive and being placed in quarantine along with 300 additional horses on the property. In other EHV-1 cases in the state, on Jan. 12 in San Mateo County, an 8-year-old mare at Alameda County racetrack displayed neurological signs and was removed
to quarantine at home, with 14 horses from this index mare’s training barn and an additional 13 horses from an adjoining barn also isolated - all with no clinical cases detected, and on Jan.
26 the quarantine at the track was released. In Riverside County on Feb. 10, a gelding was confirmed positive at an event and was isolated, with 11 additional horses testing positive and 45 horses in the exposed barn quarantined. In Alameda County on Feb. 11, a gelding tested
CANTERBURY PARK PLANS RENOVATIONS
(Feb. 10) According to the Paulick Report, Canterbury Park Holding Company, the parent company of Canterbury Park, announced the planned sale of around 40 acres in the northeast corner of the property to initiate changes to the backside. Renovations of the existing facilities will include the addition of new barns, stables and dorms, as well as a reconfiguration of
the existing training track. Canterbury Park Holding Company presented these changes to the Minnesota Racing Commission for review and, if approved, construction should begin after the 2022 meet. The 40 acres will house
a state of the art 19,000 seat amphitheater as part of the Canterbury Commons development project. “We are very excited about both of these projects and the opportunity to complement our horse racing, card casino and entertainment operations with a world-class outdoor music venue in Canterbury Commons. These projects will provide significant employment and economic benefits for the City of Shakopee
and the surrounding region as well as enhance our horse racing operations,” said Canterbury Chairman and CEO Randy Sampson.
NWR FOR DIVAS FIRST ANITA
(Feb. 13) Divas First Anita (Divas First Down-Julies Lil Jess, Mr Jess Perry) set a New World Record for 110-yards at the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City on Feb. 13. The 4-year-old sorrel filly covered the distance in :6.660 for a 116 speed index while winning the Francisco Pasquel Classic. Divas First Anita has earned $99,790, also winning the 2021 Mexico Derby.
BOB BLACKBURN HIRED AS NEW TRACK SUPERINTENDENT FOR PRAIRIE MEADOWS
(Feb. 15) Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel announced the hiring of Bob Blackburn
Remington Park for 15 years, and oversaw track maintenance at an Ocala, Florida Thoroughbred Farm. “I am blessed and excited for this
new opportunity in Iowa working at Prairie Meadows,” says Blackburn.
ARGUMENTS BEGIN IN TEXAS ON HISA OPPOSITION
(Feb. 16) Oral arguments began in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas for a federal case filed by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), joined by numerous state affiliates, seeking to nullify the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). State affiliates joining the National HBPA in filing the HISA case include Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia, and the State of Texas and its racing commission in February joined in the lawsuit. In 2021, legislation was passed by congress to transfer regulatory authority over the racing industry to HISA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and giving enforcement
of new regulations to a third party with hopes of an agreement with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). In December, however, the USADA and HISA talks had broken down. The plaintiffs argue that the creation of HISA violates the 10th Amendment, which reserves power to states not granted to the federal government, and that it violates the non- delegation doctrine of the U.S. Constitution in that it gives governmental authority to a private, unaccountable organization overseen by a federal agency with no expertise in
horse racing. The American Quarter Horse Association and North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians have filed “friend of the court briefs” in support of the plaintiffs.
INDIANA GRAND NOW HORSESHOE INDIANAPOLIS RACING & CASINO
(Feb. 22) Previously named Indiana Grand, Caesars Entertainment unveiled the newly branded Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The expanded offerings at Horseshoe Indianapolis include a $33.7 million expansion and renovation, as well as over 100 new jobs. “Being able to link our property and services to the Horseshoe brand will enhance the gaming,
Miguel A. Espinoza/Hipódromo de Las Américas
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