Page 12 - December 2017

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by Jennifer K. Hancock
A Time For Coming TogeTher
As we embark on a new year with new beginnings and reflect on all the memories of 2017, I am reminded of how many lives were impacted by natural disasters. While 2017 will be remembered
for hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters that affected many in the racing community, we should also be reminded of the way the members of the horse industry rally to come to the aid of those in need.
The recent tragedy involving San Luis Rey Training Center in Bonsall, California, is a prime example. The Quarter Horse Benevolent Charitable Foundation and Los Alamitos Race Course owner and CEO Dr. Edward Allred each donated $25,000, and F. Jack Liebau, the vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association, donated $10,000 for relief efforts involving the tragic Lilac fire that swept through the training center on Dec. 7.
The $60,000 donation was given to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation Inc., a non-profit foundation that presently assists more than 5,000 California Horse Racing Board licensed backstretch workers and their families. Donations to CTHF are being distributed directly to the victims most in need. To make a donation
to help those affected by the California wildfires, visit cthfcares.org. A donate button is located near the top of the CTHF homepage. When donating, select “Add Special Instructions to Seller.” Once
this tab has been selected, donors can type in the words, “For victims of the SLRD fire,” or something similar. Regardless, all money donated will go
to assist victims of this tragic fire. No amount
is too small. The CTHF is a 501c-3 registered charitable trust and its Tax ID number is available on the organization’s website. Funds can be mailed directly to the CTHF at: California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation Inc., PO Box 660129, Arcadia, CA 91066
“When horsemen are in need of help, there is no distinction between Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse horsemen,’’ said Dominic “Bud” Alessio, president of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association.
TACkling TesTing
The turning of the calendar to a new year will not erase the issues that horse racing still faces with the use of illegal substances. But industry leaders continue to work toward a level playing field and ways to catch cheaters.
At the American Association of Equine Practitioner annual convention, which was held Nov. 17-21 in
San Antonio, Texas, hair testing was the focus in
one session and the topic of many conversations. Industry and laboratory leaders gathered at the AAEP convention to discuss details of hair testing protocol to ensure the reporting of uniform results.
A closed session involved representatives from University of California at Davis, LGC Science Inc., Texas A&M Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Industrial Laboratories Company Inc., the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, and the American Quarter Horse Association. It was agreed that a Standard Operating Procedure will be developed, with procedures to be finalized by mid-January 2018. A study will also be done with RMTC in which all labs will be sent portions of the same sample to determine if their findings are uniform.
JoCkeys honored
The Jockeys’ Guild National Convention, held Dec. 11-12 in Las Vegas, included recognition for two jockeys. Ricky Ramirez and Tad Leggett were both honored at the gathering.
Ricky Ramirez received the Jacky Martin Award, which was presented by G.R. Carter Jr.
The 2015 AQHA Champion Jockey, Ramirez was born in Odessa, Texas, in 1985 and introduced to racing by his father, who owned and raced Quarter Horses. At the age of 13, Ramirez began riding in match races. By 18, he had his jockey license and he made his first trip to the winner’s circle in a 2003 maiden race at Gillespie County Fair aboard his dad’s horse, Hooked On Fuel. Ramirez has continued
to visit the winner’s circle and has won more than 80 stakes, including 21 Grade 1 races. Last year, he reached the 1,000-win milestone.
Tad Leggett, as well as jockey Jack Fires, each received the Ron Turcotte Courage Award.
Leggett’s 24-year career began in Nebraska. In 2015, Leggett was inducted into the Canterbury
Park Hall of Fame. A force to be reckoned with at
the Minnesota track, Leggett was the leading Quarter Horse jockey each season from 2003 to 2006. In 2010 at Fair Meadows in Oklahoma, Leggett’s career was
ThE MonTh in rEviEw
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SPEEDHORSE, December 2017
Track chaTTer