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APHA BULLETIN
Dear APHA Friends & Family...
First and foremost, my heart goes out to anyone who’s been impacted by the virus, either directly or indirectly. My thoughts are especially with those who are sick, to whom I extend my heartfelt wishes for a full recovery.
The horse racing industry has been impacted at many levels, probably the largest and most immediate being the difficulties of operating racetracks during the pandemic. Paint racing has been fortunate to have horse racing continue in Oklahoma. The racing associations and Remington Park have been working in unity with each other and the Governor’s office to safely continue to operate, with a skeleton crew and discounted purses, until this situation passes. It will pass. We will be ready. The sacrifices Paint racing
is making now at Remington Park will prove to be beneficial in coming back strong when the situation turns.
I urge horsemen to not let their frustration of a current situation influence decisions on their future. The sport is here
to stay. The APHA Racing Committee is continually working
to improve the stance of Paint racing. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas, reach out to myself or any committee member. We’re here to help.
- Jamie Howard, Chair APHA Racing Advisory Committee
I hope this message finds everyone well and maintaining through this time of epic social disruption. The racing industry is struggling as well as the other essential and non-essential businesses. While this has caused millions in unemployment, we are grateful that certain venues are still operating and creating opportunity for horsemen and women alike. Although this is still allowing pari-mutuel racing for the Paint horse, it has taken huge financial blows with purse cuts that will impact everyone involved from owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, veterinarians, and the list goes on. As a long standing member and the Vice-Chair of the Paint Racing Advisory Committee, I want to extend the gratitude to my fellow committee members for the recent hard work in implementing decisions in cooperation with the racing associations to keep Paint racing active at this time while maintaining future preservation of Paint racing when the time of social distancing ends and normal life as we know resumes.
I want everyone who reads this to understand we have been working and will continue our endeavors for the betterment of
Paint racing through this difficult time. We are here to answer any questions or comments anyone may have, and I wish you all the very best and we will all get through this together.
God bless.
- Steve Wright, Vice-Chair Racing Advisory Committee
Everything worth having is worth fighting for....are we in a valley? Let’s climb out.
Are we tired? Take this time to rest. Are we discouraged? Take this time to talk to the Lord and let our faith bring us peace.
We aren’t the only industry having trouble, temporarily out of work, money or toilet paper...the sun will come out one day soon and we will be back at the race track cheering on our valuable investments...when at the end of the rope, tie a knot in it and hang on!
Prayers to each of you in our racing family. We will fight for what we love!
- Dan & Kaye Jones
First and foremost, I hope you and yours are well. As we all know, COVID-19 has changed the world and horse racing as we know it. As a Racing Advisory Committee member, I have had many calls asking what is going to happen to horse racing in the coming months. I have no way of knowing what is going to happen, but here is what I believe and what I’m doing.
First, I believe that COVID-19 will pass. I believe that Paint horse racing will be just fine.
I encourage mare owners to breed your mares and horse owners make your futurity and derby payments. We need to do what we have always done.
Stay in the Paint racing business. The world has changed as we know it, but we as horse owners do not need to change doing what we love and have always done. God bless.
- Stan Dennison
AMERICAN PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION SPEEDHORSE May 2020 129