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TRACK CHATTER
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
by Jennifer K. Hancock
RACING COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND VINNIE BEDNAR
The racing community is rallying around Jockey Vinnie Bednar, who suffered lower- limb paralysis after a spill at Los Alamitos on Aug. 22. A GoFundMe campaign and the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation are raising funds for the 28-year-old rider, who was transferred to Craig Hospital in Colorado in September.
Los Alamitos Race Course donated $50,000 to the fundraising efforts being spearheaded by the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need in the horse racing community.
Donations to help Bednar can be made through the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation at samthompsonfoundation.org. The Foundation will give 100 percent of the money raised directly to Bednar to assist with his expenses. Donations should be earmarked by indicating “Vinnie Bednar” on check memos or selecting in the drop-down menu on the donation site.
A professional jockey since 2011, Bednar rode 2019 AQHA World Champion He Looks Hot to victory in the Champion of Champions last year. His recent stakes wins include the Vessels Maturity on Chocolatito on July 5, the Governor’s Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 26, and the Golden State Derby aboard Circle City on Aug. 16. He also won the Los Alamitos Invitational
Championship aboard He Looks Hot last year. Bednar has piloted 607 winners across all-breeds during his riding career.
The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation is a philanthropic organization focused on
the health, education, and welfare of those involved in the horse racing community. Its goal is to provide support to anyone in need in the horse racing community.
CALIFORNIA OUTLINES NEW RULES FOR CROPS
A more restrictive rule governing use
of the riding crop took effect Oct. 1 for all Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and mixed- breed races as well as race training
in California. The amended rule is designed to further protect horses
without compromising the safety of
horses and riders.
On June 11, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) adopted Rule 1688, which was first proposed in March 2019, with a vote of 4-2.
The rule limits the use of a riding crop to two times in succession and no more than six times in a race excluding showing or waiving the crop or tapping the horse on the shoulder. It also requires jockeys to use the crop in an underhanded position at or below the shoulder level of the jockey.
During training the crop can only be used for the safety of horse or rider.
Absent mitigating circumstances, which includes but is not limited to use
of the riding crop for the safety of horse and rider, if a jockey or exercise rider rides in a manner contrary to this rule, the stewards shall impose a maximum fine of $1,000 and a minimum suspension of three days. In trial heats, the suspension shall include the subsequent related
stakes race.
Stewards plan to meet with jockeys at California tracks to explain the rule and to answer questions. In addition, the CHRB is recommending to the Boards of Stewards that they should for a reasonable period of time use the “mitigating circumstances” language to employ the current penalty structure – lighter penalties – in order to make the transition to the amended rule less disruptive to jockeys as well as all stakeholders and the wagering public.
OQHRA Executive Director Kole Kennemer presented Remington Park Vice President of Racing Operations Matt Vance with a plaque commemorating their hard work as the track continued to operate its 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa meet while the majority of racetracks around the country
shut down.
ACCOLADES FOR REMINGTON PARK
In September, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association recognized
the efforts of Remington Park Vice President of Racing Operations Matt Vance and the entire staff at the Oklahoma City track for their roles in operating the spring racing meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OQHRA Executive Director
Kole Kennemer presented Vance with a plaque commemorating their hard work as the track continued to operate its American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa meet while the majority of racetracks around the country
shut down.
The plaque reads: “The OQHRA would like to thank Matt Vance and the entire Staff at Remington Park for their dedication to Horse Racing during
these difficult times. With your leadership, the Quarter, Paint & Appaloosa Race Horses continued to race when most tracks in the Country were shut down. It is with our sincere appreciation that we present this to our Heroes at Remington Park in 2020.”
8 SPEEDHORSE October 2020