Page 98 - January_2023

202 Y E A R i n 2 REVIEW
OCTOBER
RULING: NM TRACKS CAN’T USE PURSE MONEY TO PAY INSURANCE
(Oct. 11) New Mexico District Court Judge Victor S. Lopez has determined that the
New Mexico Racing Commission (NMRC)
Association (AQHA) Racing Committee, and Vice Chair of the Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse Breeders’ Fund Advisory Committees of the Minnesota Racing Commission. “My experiences at Canterbury Park have prepared me for this next chapter and I’m thrilled
it will be at the finest and most important
Kentucky Commission Approves New QH Track Ownership
improperly required horseman, through their purse accounts, to pay half of racetrack-obtained insurance premiums for jockeys and exercise riders in violation of state statute. According
to the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association (NMHA), over $9 million was used from purse accounts at New Mexico’s five racetracks to pay insurance premiums since 2009. The method
of funding insurance premiums has been in effect since 2007 and was made in agreement with NMHA. In his order, Lopez wrote, “It
is neither the commission’s nor this court’s
role to decide and implement policy which would essentially allow the skimming of racing revenue for the admittedly favorable purpose of protecting jockeys and exercise riders who may sustain injuries in the course of engaging in the inherently dangerous profession of horse racing.” The ruling could affect Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) fee collection, and the NMRC is seeking a “fair and efficient way for New Mexico horsemen to pay those fees.”
racing organization in the country,” Offerman said. “I’d like to thank Canterbury Park
and its racing community for their support throughout my tenure.”
TEXAS HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
(Oct. 15) The Texas Horse Racing Hall of
Fame announced their 2022 inductees, who were honored at a gala at Lone Star Park. The inductees include: Mike Carter, a breeder and owner involved in the development of Lone Star Park who is a key manager of Phillips Ranch and the B.F. Phillips Jr. estate; C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, an all-time leading trainer of Quarter Horses, including the all-time leading money earner in Ochoa, and a member of the AQHA Hall of Fame and Ruidoso Racehorse Hall of Fame; the late Stan Sigman, a successful businessman and partner in Ruidoso Downs
as well as founder of Namgis Quarter Horses, which breeds top race and performance horses; Janet VanBebber, AQHA’s Chief Racing Officer and the AQHA’s all-time leading female trainer of over $13.7 million; and 2-time World Champion & AQHA Hall of Fame Horse Refrigerator, the first horse to break the $2 million mark in earnings who retired as AQHA’s all-time leading money earner with 10 Grade
1 stakes. As well as honoring these inductees, the JoAnn Weber Distinguished Service
Award will go to Jeff Hooper, a horseman who served the industry for decades with the Texas Thoroughbred Association, Lone Star Park and the National Cutting Horse Association.
JOCKEY HECTOR ALDRETE SUSPENDED/FINED
(Oct. 25) Jockey Hector Aldrete was suspended for 30-days and fined $2,500 for ‘failure to ride out his mount’ at the Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 18. Racing in the fifth race – an 870-yard allowance, aboard third choice in the field Starlite Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Starlite Delight, Separatist) for owner/trainer Martin Orona Sr., Aldrete stood up approximately 1/16th of a mile before the finish causing the 6-year-old gelding to drop from third place to finish in sixth place. The suspension for Aldrete, who has ridden Quarter Horse earners of over $5.6 million, runs from Oct. 23 through Nov. 22.
KENTUCKY COMMISSION APPROVES NEW QH TRACK OWNERSHIP
(Oct. 31) The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously to approve new partners in the racetrack and equestrian center to be built in the eastern part of the state. The North Carolina-based Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians will be a financial partner
to Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, while Keeneland Association will also be a partner. The $55 million world-class Quarter Horse track, equestrian center and entertainment complex will be built in Ashland, Kentucky, and is expected to open in 2024. Commissioners also agreed to allow the first week of Quarter Horse racing to take place at The Red Mile in Lexington on April 1-6, 2023, while the track is under construction.
NOVEMBER
AQHA’S ALL-TIME LEADING DAM
REMEMBER ME ROSE
(Nov. 9) Remember Me Rose has become AQHA’s all-time leading dam by money earned. The mare has produced 21 winners from 29 race starters with earnings of $5,708,574. Remember Me Rose is an AQHA Dam of Distinction who has produced Grade 1 winners Powerful Favorite ($1,226,875), Runforyourlife ($620,822), Bomb Cyclone ($1,379,291) and Cyber Monday ($528,428), and Grade 1-placed Cyber Attack ($1,151,917). Remember Me Rose was bred by MLA International Co. and is owned by Dr. Steve Burns.
NY VET & RACEHORSE TRAINERS SENTENCED
TO PRISON
(Nov. 17) Defendants Louis Grasso, a veterinarian, and standardbred trainers Richard Banca and Rene Allard were sentenced to prison for their roles in distributing adulterated and misbranded drugs in service of a racehorse doping scheme. Grasso received 50 months, Banca 30 months, and Allard 27 months in prison. The defendants previously pled guilty
Speedhorse
Coady Photography
ANDREW OFFERMAN NEW NYRA VP, GM
(Oct. 12) Andrew Offerman has been appointed Vice President and General Manager for the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), and will oversee frontside operations at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Offerman most recently served as Senior Vice President of Racing Operations at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Offerman also holds advisory and governance positions with the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Advisory Committee; Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA); American Quarter Horse
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