Page 170 - March 2020

NEWS BRIEFS
2019 Appaloosa Racing Hall of Fame Inductees
The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) on Jan. 30 announced the 2019 Racing Hall of Fame inductees. Candidates were nominated by ApHC members and voted on by the Executive Race Committee. The individual inducted is Robert Lapp of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Lapp served
on the ApHC Board of Directors from 1995- 2001, including several years as a member of
the Executive Race Committee. Lapp played a significant role in the rewrite of the rulebook to allow non-characteristic, out-crossed Appaloosas to race. He also authored over 30 racing articles for the Appaloosa Journal. The horse inducted
is The Hooper Honker, a 1975 gelding bred by Don Korth and owned by Jay Thompson. The Hooper Honker won 11 of 13 starts and earned $51,880 on his way to being named the 1977 Champion 2-Year-Old Sprint Gelding and 1978 Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding.
Arizona Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Inductees
The Arizona Quarter Horse Racing Association announced the latest inductees into the Arizona Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. The three individuals inducted are Larry Gamez, Vince Guerra, and Howard “Zip” Peterson. The inductees were honored in the clubhouse at Rillito Racetrack following the final race on Feb. 8.
CHRB’s New Medication Cutoff Rule
The California Horse Racing Board in Feb. approved an amendment redefining cutoff time for many medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, to midnight on the day entries are taken. The rule also states, “Drugs, medications or any other substance shall not
be administered by any means to a horse after it is deemed entered to race.” Exceptions that can be given after midnight of the day of entry include certain topical medications that do not contain anesthetics or other prohibited drugs. The following may be administered by injec- tion until 24 hours before post time: vitamins; tetanus antitoxin or tetanus tocoid if the
horse sustained a wound; approved anti-ulcer medications; not more than one glucocorti- coid, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), Furosemide (by third-party veteri- narian four hours pre-race). Contact CHRB to read the notice and rules for more information.
Rillito Continues Equine Wellness Program In 2020
Rillito Park in Arizona, will continue
their Equine Wellness Program in 2020. Implemented last year, the successful program saw no horse breakdowns for the 2019 Winter Meet’s 96 races. Rillito works with University of Arizona students at the track through this program, in which every horse scheduled to race receives a pre-race exam.
Javier Rosique New President of Mexican Association of Quarter Horse Breeders
Javier Rosique Leon was elected President
of the Mexican Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association for a two-year term during the association’s general meeting on Feb. 15. Rosique, who has been a Quarter Horse breeder for 40 years, is the son of past association presi- dent Don Javier Rosique Palavicini.
Three Illinois Racing Board Commissioners/ Chairman Resign
Illinois Racing Board chairman Jeff Brincat, who was appointed in 2015, board member Greg Sronce, who has been part of the board since 2012, and Edgar Ramirez, who was appointed in 2017, have resigned, leaving the 11 member commission with five members as the group already had three empty seats. The three resigned after being notified of campaign con- tributions that were in violation of a new Illinois law that went into effect midway through 2019.
Equine Therapy Included in Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill
On Dec. 12, Congressman Andy Barr’s (R-KY) amendment to the IMPROVE Act was adopted with a vote of 26-0. The amendment adds equine assisted therapy, adaptive sports
and innovative approaches to the list of services which community organizations can receive grant funding to provide to veterans. In addition to equine assisted therapy, Barr’s amendment would advocate for innovative therapies and help groups like Camp Brown Bear Veterans Camp that offers camps and retreats for veterans who are recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury.
Breyer Horse Series Inspired by Orren Mixer
Breyer is bringing renowned equine artist Orren Mixer’s “ideal” horse breed paintings to life in sculpture form. The first release in the Breyer Ideal Series is the AQHA Ideal Model, which was commissioned by the association
in 1968. The original painting hangs in the AQHA’s headquarters. The AQHA Ideal Model is now available nationwide at breyerhorses.com.
2020 Triangle Winter Sale Results
The 2020 Triangle Winter Sale, which was held Jan. 23-25, concluded with a record- breaking net average sale price of $8,500. The sale saw 641 cataloged horses and an 88% sale completion. The sale topper was Hip #342, a chestnut leopard pony called “Skittles” selling for $115,000 – a national record sale for a family gelding. The Triangle Sale had previ- ously been held in Shawnee, Oklahoma, but moved to Oklahoma City’s State Fair Park. “It’s a reflection of the overall economy,” said Triangle Horse Sales owner Jim Ware. “The horse market has experienced ups and downs throughout my lifetime for different reasons, but right now we’re experiencing a good, good market. All kinds of horses are in demand and bringing top money.” The Triangle Spring Sale is set for May 1-2 at State Fair Park.
Richard Gamez Passes Away
Jockey Richard Gamez passed away March 2 after injuries sustained in a fall at Rillito Park on March 1. The Thoroughbred Drama Is Overrated was leading in a maiden stakes when he stumbled into the turn and lost his rider. Gamez was transported to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Gamez won 643 Thoroughbred races and earned over $1.2 mil- lion, as well as 196 Quarter Horse wins with over $600,000 in earnings, including multiple graded stakes winners. He is survived by many family members and friends. According to a Rillito Park Facebook post, “We are devasted to have lost a member of our Rillito family. Richard was a fantastic human being and a true horseman.” This is the first death at the Arizona track since the 1960’s.
168 SPEEDHORSE March 2020