Page 38 - January 2016 Speedhorse

2015 A YeAr In revIew
March 5
An order was signed resolving Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association’s (FQHRA) claims against South Florida Racing Association Inc. (SFRA or “Hialeah Park”) arising out of the 2014-2015 Hialeah Park race meet. The FQHRA filed a claim in January due to a breach of the Purse Contract, stating they were owed compensatory damages after SFRA took over the maintenance of the Horseman’s Purse Account and refused to pay the FQHRA its administrative and retention expenses. Per the settlement, SFRA will not challenge FQHRA’s ownership and administration of the Horseman’s Purse for the 2015- 2016 meet, nor challenge payment of breeder/owner awards to Florida QH Breeders and Owners Association during the 2015-2016 Hialeah meet. In return, the FQHRA has dismissed its claims and is moving to develop a positive relationship going forward.
March 5
Michael Gross and Randy Thompson were re-appointed along with newly appointed Michelle Collins to serve on Indiana’s Quarter Horse Development Advisory Committee. They will serve a 4-year term through Feb. 28, 2019. Gross has served the committee as Chairman since his appointment in 2011 and previously served as a Director and Treasurer of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana for over 10 years. Quarter Horse owner/trainer Thompson, who has served on the committee since his selection in 2011, has raised Quarter Horses for over 20 years and has also served as a Director and past President of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana. Collins has served as a Director and Executive Director of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana.
March 17
The North Dakota Racing Commission announced they would not fund or grant 2015 race dates to
the track in Fargo due to the park’s excessive debt. According to Racing Director Gunner laCour, track owners owe $1.82 million in tax increment financing to the city of Fargo. Repayment of the debt was to begin March 1, but no payments had been made. Fargo’s race dates were awarded to Chippewa Downs.
March 24
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) Board approved a uniform threshold for cobalt regulations, which will be submitted to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) for consideration as a model rule. The RMTC recommends horses that test above 25 parts per billion (ppb) of cobalt in plasma be subject to a fine or warning for the first offense, be placed on the veterinarian’s list, and be ineligible to race until they test below 25 ppb
of cobalt; with horses testing above 50 ppb subject to a class B penalty, which can include disqualification of the horse, a fine, and trainer suspension.
March
March 6
Michael Allen Hickman, 71, died after a sudden illness. Mike served in the U.S. Army, was the founder and CEO of H&H Industries, and had
a passion for barrel racing and the horse racing industry.
March 6
Hialeah Park ended their 2014/2015 meet and named their leaders: leading owners were Denis and Julie Schoenhofer with 14 victories; Judd Kearl took the training title with 30 wins and earnings of $612,630; and Omar Reyes took the jockey title with 46 wins.
March 6
Longtime
owner and
breeder
Gerald
“Rush” Neff
died at the
age of 98.
Neff was an
Army veteran, worked for Col-Tex Refinery for 20 years, and started Neff’s Greenhouse and Nursery, which he managed until his retirement at
age 96. A 30 year breeder, perhaps his most notable runner was Grade 1 winner Mister WW ($393,487).
March 6-9
March 10
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission revealed their 2015 drug-testing program. According to Executive Director Joe Gorajec, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium accredited Truesdail Laboratory in Tustin, California, is the primary laboratory. The Commission dedicated up to $100,000 toward an audit program and chose Industrial Laboratory in Colorado to conduct periodic quality assurance testing. The Commission increased their target for out of competition testing to 500 horses for 2015 and continued to test for cobalt with the threshold at 25 parts per billion.
March 12
Ruidoso Downs appointed Dennis Monroe to act as Racing Integrity Liaison to ensure the integrity and accountability of racing participants. Monroe will be an integral part of
new security measures at Ruidoso Downs and will be in contact with the American Quarter Horse Association, New Mexico Racing Commission, Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Testing Laboratory,
track officials and other individuals and groups.
At the AQHA Convention, the Board of Directors approved a new rule that would broaden the gene pool in that the sperm, embryos and oocytes
from foals born in 2015 or after will not be able
to be used beyond two calendar years following that animal’s death or sterilization. This rule does not affect anyone who already has frozen sperm, embryos or oocytes from deceased or sterilized Quarter Horses.
36 SPEEDHORSE, January 2016