Page 71 - January 2018

retraining of injured or retired racehorses. The large animal hospital at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center was closed for an extensive cleanup following the deaths of 16 horses due to an outbreak of salmonella. In an effort to protect Iran’s equestrian culture, the first phase of the Horse Museum opened as a project between Iran’s Equestrian Federation and Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization. A former racehorse was
the riderless horse walking behind the caisson
in former President Ronald Reagan’s funeral procession in Washington DC. A bill was approved to prevent members of the Louisiana State Racing Commission to race their own horses in the state. Sierra, a National Champion Cow Horse, aided in the capture of a suspect involved in the death of a woman scheduled to testify against him in court
by drawing attention to him as he was hiding in
the horse’s pasture. Prairie Meadows, a non-profit company that returns all profits to the community, presented a check of more than $10 million to the Polk County Board of Supervisors. A Texas woman convicted of cruelty to animals after leaving 2 horses unfed and unsheltered for 4 months was sentenced to 30 days in jail, the first 3 of which she will only get bread and water. Auctioneer Keith Babb was inducted into the National Auctioneer Association Hall of Fame. A human cardiologist successfully repaired a ventricular septal defect on a 5-month- old colt. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law to allow state’s racetracks to import international races. The U.S. equestrian team took 6 medals, the most of any country, at
the Olympics in Greece, including one by an ex- racehorse and one following the disqualification of Germany’s show jumping gold. Pat Day, the world’s richest rider with over $29 million, won his first ever Quarter Horse race at Sam Houston Race Park as part of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America “What A Difference A Day Makes” national tour. The American Association of Equine Practitioners donated $3,000 to supply Florida veterinarians
with satellite telephones after Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan. Louisiana Racing Commission rules on horse racing were amended to include Paint Horses. In Memoriam: Jay Parsons, breeder &/or owner of Champions First Sovereign, Mini Rock, Sig Hanson & Sign Of Lanty, died; AQHA past president John Boyce “Jay” Pumphrey, 80, passed away; AQHA Supreme Racehorse Higheasterjet, 26, was euthanized; 3-time Champion/4-time Champion sire Rare Form died; World Champion sire Strawfly Special, 17, died.
2005
Be A Bono was named 2004 World Champion. Evangeline Downs, which moved from Carencro to Opelousas, opened its new racing surface for racing. A colt by Chicks Beduino became the first known race-bred offspring sired by frozen semen. Scott Wells was named General Manager of Remington Park. A 6-foot bull shark took a bite out of 6-year-old gelding while exercising in the Brisbane River in Australia. A first-time
starter broke the 300-yard Los Alamitos
track record. The British Government gave approval to Cambridge Professor and leading reproductive scientist Twink Allen to clone horses for research, but not to produce identical champion racehorses. The Bureau of Land Management halted the sale of mustangs after 2 cases in which individuals purchased 41 wild horses and sold them to slaughterhouses. Horse owners in Northern Ireland were required to have passports for their horses that would accompany them whenever sold, sent out of the province, entered in competition, used for breeding, presented for slaughter, etc. Ford Motor Company paid to save 52 wild horses about to go to slaughter and started a “Save The Mustang” fundraiser to help groups care for wild horses they adopt. The social economic cabinet of Israel approved a plan to allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. Lex Smurthwaite was appointed interim executive director of the American Paint Horse Association. The first cloned horse in North America was foaled at Texas A&M University. The California Horse Racing Board began using fingerprint-scanning technology to screen license applicants. Dash For Cash made the Sports Illustrated list of 25 amazing animals. Walk Thru Fire, whose first crop raced in 2005 and who went on to sire 8 Champions, sold
for a Quarter Horse record of $8 million. The California Horse Racing Board developed a pilot program to add microchips to identify racehorses. The oldest trainer licensed in California, Noble Threewitt, who was the youngest trainer in North America when he began his career at 21, was awarded the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award at 94. A herd of about 100 Welsh ponies were being used at the Lake
Vyrnwy nature reserve in England to maintain balance in the habitat beca. DM Shicago became the first horse ever to win the All American Futurity and then come back to
win the Triple Crown Derby – the Ruidoso, Rainbow & All American derbies. Equine groups mobilized to provide relief and raise funds for horse owners following Hurricane Katrina, including Janet VanBebber’s 7-year- old daughter TaylorAnn, who sold her artwork at Sam Houston Race Park, which matched
all contributions and donated $2,150 to the American Red Cross. The Florida QH Racing Association held a meeting regarding the return of Quarter Horse racing in the state. More than 30 mares at the new Royal Vista Southwest in Oklahoma were impregnated with a cloned embryo produced by ViaGen.
In Memoriam: Trainer William “Ed” Giles, 66, passed away; Steve Mitchell, co-breeder/owner
of 2-time World Champion SLM Big Daddy, passed away; Champion/Champion sire First To Flash was euthanized after a paddock accident following his first year at stud; The great cutting horse Peppy San Badger, earner of $172,710 and sire of $25 million in earners, died at 31 at King Ranch and was buried at their headquarters with Old Sorrel, Wimpy and others; Champion Royal Down Dash, 15, died; Champion/multiple Champion producer Seperate Ways died.
Scott Well was named General Manager of Remington Park in 2005.