Page 209 - August 2021

Blea Named CHRB Equine Medical Director
Dr. Jeff Blea has been named equine medical di- rector of the California Horse Racing Board, as- suming his duties on July 1. Blea will advise the Board on matters pertaining to equine health and welfare, as well as oversee the CHRB drug testing program, work with investigators on violations, among other duties. Dr. Blea studied at Colorado State University, was a veterinarian on the Southern California Thoroughbred rac- ing circuit for 28 years, and served as a director of the Dolly Green Research Foundation from 1999-2015. Blea replaces Dr. Rick Arthur, who retired June 30 after 15 years of service.
Boehringer Ingelheim Releases Sound Track For Stressed Horses
Studies have shown that playing music can
help balance equine behavior, and Boehringer Ingelheim has released a music track specially designed to help reduce stress in horses. The arrangement was created by Janet Marlow, a sound behaviorist, composer, researcher and founder of Pet Acoustics Inc. To access the track, visit www.youtube.com/channel/UCoekm- WDxfuaOGuL1ELoPIGQ/videos.
Two-Year-Old Gettingafterit Sets NTR
In just her second start, two-year-old filly Get- tingafterit (A Revenant-Seperate Secrets, Sepa- ratist) broke her maiden while setting a 250- yard New Track Record in a $16,000 maiden race at Canterbury Park on June 9. The brown filly crossed the wire 1 1/4-lengths in front, clocking in at :12.882 for a 119 speed index. The previous record of :12.914 was set in 2012. Gettingafterit is bred, owned and trained by Dean F. Frey and was ridden by Ry Eikleberry. Expect to see the filly next in the trials to the John Deere Ruidoso Downs Juvenile Challenge on Aug. 14.
RG Chosen Jewel Sets NWR
Four-year-old black filly RG Chosen Jewel (Dog Daze Afternoon-Gators Girl, Jody O Toole) be- came the first Mexican-bred horse to set a New World Record, covering 110-yards in :6.744 while winning the Francisco Pasquel Classic at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Feb. 28. She was bred by Juan Pablo McLaurin Castillon.
She is owned by Gabriela Cardenas Atlixqueno, trained by Victor Hugo Arias Oropeza and was ridden by H. Camacho. RG Chosen Jewel broke the previous record of :6.770 set by Carneros at Ajax Downs in 2019.
Texas HIEA survives 87th Texas
Legislative Session
The Texas Horse Industry Escrow Account (HIEA), which was created in 2019 to preserve the heritage and culture of the Texas horse in- dustry and to spur grown in the state’s horse and
agricultural economy by reinvesting $25 million annually from the purchase of horse related goods, withstood an effort to unravel it due to organized resistance from the horse industry and supportive legislators. Also prior to the legislative session, the Texas Racing Commis- sion (TRC) underwent a review, which recom- mended the transfer of TRC function to other state agencies, but legislation will keep TRC as a stand-alone agency. Other legislation involv- ing racing was considered during the session, including online and in-person sports wagering, historic horse racing, tribal casinos, and more, but none of the proposed bills succeeded.
agent, program coordinator, chart caller, entry clerk, and clerk of course. Since 2013, she has served as assistant racing secretary at Ruidoso Downs and Zia Park.
Louisiana Joins Horseracing Integrity &
Safety Act Lawsuit
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joined the lawsuit challenging the consitutionality of
the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act (HISA), which cedes much regulatory and taxation power of the state to an unelected and unaccountable nongovernmental entity. “This violation of the Tenth Amendment would have devastating effects to our State and the thousands of Louisianans
in the horse industry,” stated Landry. Louisiana joins the States of Oklahoma, West Virginia, the Oklahoma and West Virginia Racing Commis- sions, the U.S. Trotting Association, Hanover Shoe Farms, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Rac- ing Association, and Fair Meadows, Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs racetracks as plain- tiffs in the lawsuit challenging HISA.
Grants Pass Downs Featured In NYT Article
In a July 19 New York Times article written
by 2-time Eclipse Award winner Joe Drape, Grants Pass Downs was recognized for its commitment to safety and community. No Need For Speed features interviews with jockeys, trainers, owners, track officials and fans with
a recurring theme that the horses always come first. The article also highlights the increasing handle that soared from $60,000 daily to over
Jamie Zamora Named Zia Park
Racing Secretary
Ruidoso Downs racing secretary Jamie Zamora has also been named racing secretary at Zia Park for the 2021 meet, which begins Sept. 26. Zamora has worked in the horse industry for over 40 years as a groom, trainer, owner, jockey
NEWS BRIEFS
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Can you identify the horse in this photo? Here’s a hint: Seen here winning the 1979 Rainbow Futurity, this colt went on to have a successful career as a sire with five AQHA Champions. The answer is on page 209.
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