Page 210 - December 2017

LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale Results
The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale was held Nov. 18 in Opelousas, Louisiana. Total receipts were $600,350 for 128 horses sold, up 41% from 2016 when 123 horses brought $424,800. The average price was up 37% to $4,727 and the median of $3,500 was up 59% compared to last year. The $22,000 high seller was Hip #36, Fast Prize Dolly (Shazoom-Fast First Prize, Heza Fast Man), a 2009 sorrel mare consigned by Weetona Stanley, S&E Prepping LLC, Agent and purchased by Rick Boutte. The winning mare has produced 100% win- ners and sold with an embryo by Freighttrain B. The leading consignor was Robicheaux Ranch Inc., Agent with nine head selling for $91,400, and the leading buyer was Rancho La Cobra purchasing two horses for a total
of $26,000. Heza Fast Dash led all sale sires of yearlings by average with two or more
sold with two horses averaging $14,500, and Apollitical Blood was the leading covering stallion by average with two or more sold with two in-foal mares selling for an average of $20,000. “This is possibly the best Fall Mixed Sale in the history of our Association,” stated LQHBA Executive Director Tony Patterson. “We thank everyone who helped make this entire weekend possible.”
OQHA Hall Of Fame
The 2018 Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee ceremony will be held
at the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City
on Jan. 26. Created in 2005, the awards recognize outstanding individuals, horses, ranches or businesses whose contributions impact the American Quarter Horse in the state of Oklahoma’s equine industry. The 2018 inductees are individuals Luke Castle, Constance L. “Connie” Golden, Jessie Powell, Calvin R. White DVM; and horses Johnny Boone, Lena’s Bar TB, Miss Olene, Spanish Array; and business Ada Horse Sales. Silver Spur Western Lodge is the recipient of the Bud Breeding Oklahoma Spirit Award. For tickets or more information, call (405) 440-0694, email okqha@sbsglobal.net, or visit www.okqha.com.
AQHA Receives Donation From New Ruidoso Owners
The four new owners of Ruidoso Downs, Stan Sigman, Johnny Trotter, John Andreini and Narciso Flores, pledged $10,000 to the AQHA equine research fund in honor of past president Dr. Glenn Blodgett, who worked on developing a new set of drug protocols that will be implemented by Ruidoso Downs. The new ownership group is actively pursuing new ways to safeguard the American Quarter Horse.
ARCI Calls For Breeding & Sale Regulation
The Association of Racing Commissioners (ARCI) is calling for the independent regulation of the breeding and sales industries due to concerns
of drug money laundering and equine welfare. The ARCI Equine Welfare Committee discussed the use of Bisphosphonates on horses that race or are intended to race. While this has been approved by the FDA to treat navicular in older horses, federal law does not preclude their use in young horses despite safety concerns and research in other mam- mals showing a link to stress fractures. The recent high-profile federal investigations and convictions that revealed the Mexican drug cartel was utilizing Quarter Horse sales to launder drug money exposed another reason why ARCI is calling for breeding and sale regulation. The ARCI would like to expand the racing regulatory authority of its members or other suitable entity to include the breeding and
sale of race horses, and to empower its officers to begin talks with policymakers and racing industry constituencies at all levels to advance this concept.
LQHBA Scholarship Drawings
Since its inception in 2001, over $500,000 has been earmarked for the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association scholarship program to provided financial aid for students. The pro- gram was the vision of the late Jim Mitchell and Executive Director Emeritus Leverne Perry and is supported strongly by the LQHBA, its board members and many sponsors. Five scholarships totaling $11,000 were presented at Evangeline Downs following the fifth race on Dec. 16. “Our board of directors is committed to helping high school students and funding our scholar- ship program,” said LQHBA Executive Director Tony Patterson. “Recently we have expanded the participant base to not only graduating high school seniors, but to those that have already graduated and are pursuing higher education.”
Caesars Entertainment To Purchase Indiana Racinos
Caesars Entertainment Corp. announced on Nov. 16 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Centaur Holdings LLC for $1.7 billion in cash, thus adding Hoosier Park Racing and Casino and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino to its Total Rewards network. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing condi- tions, is expected to close the first half of 2018.
2018 Fort Pierre Racing Cancelled
Promoters and organizers of live racing at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, say they won’t be able to hold a 2018 meet. The Verendrye Benevolent Association has put on the races at Fort Pierre for more than 50 years. According to the secretary
to the board, the reason for doubt about 2018 is a continued decline in funds provided by the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. The funds are generated from taxes on pari-mutuel betting.
National Equine Health Plan Published
The American Horse Council (AHC), in conjunction with the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state animal health officials, on Oct. 31 announced that the National Equine Health Plan (NEHP) is now available at equinedis- easecc.org. The goals of the NEHP are to protect the health and welfare of the U.S. equine population, facilitate the continued interstate and international movement of horses and their products, ensure the avail- ability of regulatory services, and protect the economic continuity of business in the equine industry.
Veterinarian, Pharmacy Found Guilty In Dermorphin Case
It was announced on Nov. 8 that a federal jury found Kyle James Hebert and Kohll’s Pharmacy & Healthcare Inc. guilty of conspiring to sell an unapproved opioid drug 40 times more powerful than morphine to improve performance of race horses. Hebert was also found guilty of 2 counts of receipt of adulterated or misbranded drug with the intent to defraud and mislead and 1 count
of misbranding a drug with the intent to defraud and mislead. Kohll’s Pharmacy was also found guilty of 2 counts of introduc- tion of adulterated or misbranded drug in interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead. Evidence revealed that from Nov. 11, 2010 to Dec. 2012, Hebert and Kohll’s conspired to distribute a synthetic form of Dermorphin, and that Hebert put the drug into syringes and gave them to trainers. Hebert faces 5 years in prison for the conspiracy counts and 3 years for each of his other counts. Kohll’s faces a substantial fine and other penalties. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. FDA, Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. Eight other trainers, including John Darrel Soileau, Alonzo Loya, Alvin Smith and Michael Heath Taylor, received fines and lengthy suspensions in the case.
ADW Boosts Minnesota Breeders’ Fund
The Minnesota Racing Commission autho- rized a record payment of more than $590,000 in breeder awards to Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse breeders. The payout was due, in part, to Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) legislation passed last year. Since the legislation initiative to license ADW providers, a portion of the revenue generated from Minnesota residents wagering on horse racing is being returned to the state horse racing industry, pro- viding increased funding for purses, breeders’ awards, and expanded regulatory oversight.
208 SPEEDHORSE, December 2017
news briefs