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Apollitical Jess Breaks Single-Season Earnings Record For 4th Time
to felony drug misbranding and adulteration charges. The investigation arose from widespread schemes by racehorse trainers, veterinarians, distributors of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), and others to manufacture, distribute and receive PEDs and to secretly administer them to racehorses competing at all levels
15, 2022, through Sept. 14, 2023. Under the multiple medication violation point system, Garcia-Solis received 6 points and has been suspended an additional 30 days from Sept. 15, 2023, through Oct. 15, 2023. Three-year-old gelding Confidential Dash (Tempting Dash- Secret Baby Doll, Raise A Secret) had previously
YEAR in 202 REVIEW 2
improve health, promote the arts, and support other meaningful causes and organizations
in Southern New Mexico. “This gift is a very significant one and it will make a definite impact on our efforts to support Southern New Mexicans. This generous donation will improve the way of life for many of those in
of horseracing to obtain prize money at the detriment and risk of health and well-being of the racehorses. Through this scheme, Grasso helped corrupt trainers collect over $47 million in ill-gotten purses winnings. Grasso was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,656,576. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “Illegally doping racehorses is animal abuse in the service of greed. Such corruption threatens the health of racehorses and undermines the integrity of the sport. Today, three defendants have been sentenced for their roles in perpetuating, and profiting from, the mistreatment of animals.”
U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS STRIKES DOWN FEDERAL HORSE RACING RULES ACT
(Nov. 18) The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress unconstitutionally
gave too much power to a nonprofit authority it created in 2020 to develop and enforce horseracing rules, stating that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) is “facially unconstitutional.” HISA was created to
bring uniform policies and enforcement to horseracing amid doping scandals and racetrack horse deaths, but the 5th Circuit ruled in favor of opponents of the act in lawsuits brought
by horseracing associations and state officials. Three 5th Circuit judges – Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, Judge Carolyn Dineen King, and Judge Kurt Engelhardt - agreed with opponents of the act, including the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and similar groups in multiple states, that the setup gave too much power to the nongovernmental authority and too little to the FTC. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry hailed the ruling on Twitter, calling HISA a “federal takeover
of Louisiana horse racing.” The appeals court has remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings.
TRAINER GARCIA-SOLIS SUSPENDED 1 YEAR, FINED $10,000
(Nov. 21) Trainer Cervando Garcia-Solis has been suspended for 1 year and fined $10,000 after Confidential Dash tested positive for the ADHD medication Ritalin, a Class 1 drug violation. The New Mexico Horse Racing Commission suspended Garcia-Solis from Sept.
raced under the name of his breeder, trainer and co-owner Gregg Sanders and hadn’t finished better than fourth in his five starts. Under his first start for trainer Garcia-Solis and owner Jesus Garcia-Solis, Confidential Dash won a maiden race at The Downs at Albuquerque
on Aug. 27, where he tested positive for Ritalin, a zero-tolerance drug in New Mexico. Confidential Dash was disqualified, and all purse monies were redistributed.
our state in need,” said President and CEO of Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico Terra Winter.
DECEMBER
WYOMING HORSE RACING SEES RECORD YEAR
(Dec. 2) Wyoming Horse Racing LLC saw
a record-setting year in 2022 for Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs, and for the racing industry in the state. Horsemen participating
in Wyoming racing received over $8.5 million in prize money, including purses and breeder awards. On Oct. 1, Sweetwater Downs recorded the richest day in the history of horse racing
in the state with $297,370 in purses and a $127,820 purse for the Wyoming All Breeds Futurity – the largest purse in the past 22 years of racing. Horse racing’s growth has more
than doubled since 2018, creating huge effect for veterinarians, feed suppliers, restaurants, hotels, and others in the communities where horse racing and breeding take place. “The numbers are telling us that significant growth
is taking place in the state’s horse industry,”
said President of Wyoming Horse Racing Nick Hughes. “We are meeting that growth with more than $1,000,000 in investments into the infrastructure at Sweetwater Downs for the benefit of the horses and horsemen.”
AQHA SUPREME RACE HORSES KISS THRU FIRE, INSTYGATOR & KJ DESPARADO
(Dec. 5) The AQHA named their newest AQHA Supreme Race Horses in Kiss Thru
Fire and Instygator. 2017 sorrel mare Kiss
Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Fredaville, Mr Jess Perry), owned by Gentry Farms, won 13 races and has earned $708,025 thus far winning
the Charger Bar Handicap-G1 (twice), Las Damas Handicap-G2, California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-G3 (twice), Denim N Diamonds Handicap-G3, among others. 2018 brown gelding Instygator (Ivory James-Eye Popping, Mr Eye Opener), owned by Barboza Racing Corp., has won 10 races and earned $1,582,551 thus far winning the Refrigerator Invitational Championship-G1, The Championship at Sunland Park-G1, and All American Derby-G1. The Supreme Race Horse title is given to a racing American Quarter Horse that during
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APOLLITICAL JESS BREAKS SINGLE-SEASON EARNINGS RECORD FOR 4TH TIME
(Nov. 21) Apollitical Jess (Mr Jess Perry- Apollitical Time, Apollo TB) has broken his own Quarter Horse racing single-season progeny earnings set last year, and for the fourth time.
In 2018, Apollitical Jess broke First Down Dash’s single-season earnings record with over $8 million in earnings; in 2019 he came back to set another record with over $8.1 million
in single-season earnings. In 2021, Apollitical Jess broke the record for the third time with over $9 million, and this year through Nov. 19, the prolific stallion single-season earnings have reached over $9.2 million. Apollitical Jess currently stands as the #4 all-time leading sire with over $60.5 million in total earnings.
SUNLAND PARK ANNOUNCES $500,000 GIFT
(Nov. 30) Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in New Mexico, announced a $500,000 gift from the Stanley E. Fulton Family Foundation to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico. Stanley E. Fulton was a long- time owner of Sunland Park and the donation will benefit the residents of Dona Ana, Catron, Caves, Hidalgo, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, Grant, Lincoln and Luna counties. The funds will
be used to feed the hungry, expand literacy,
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