Derby Weekend Celebration - by Dr. Scott Palmer

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:42:00 GMT

(Originally published in the May 16, 2009 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)

Calvin Borel, Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr., and Mine That Bird stole the show in the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The upset victory was a Cinderella story if there ever was one. A hard-working, ex-rodeo-cowboy-turned-Thoroughbred trainer drives to Louisville from New Mexico hauling his Derby-bound horse. Borel rode Mine That Bird with a Street Sense-like determination that proved unbeatable in one of the most dramatic finishes in Derby history. Does it get any better than that?

Borel and Mind That Bird weren’t the only winners on the first Saturday in May. In the past year the Thoroughbred racing industry has been focused on reform initiatives designed to make racing safer for both horses and riders. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance has put in place an accreditation program that has stimulated racetracks to institute policies and capital improvements that have created a climate of increased awareness and dedication to the safety of our athletes.

Some have embraced and supported these initiatives. Others are skeptical of the progress made in the past year. They point to the lack of a national racing commissioner and persistent variability in rules and regulations among the 38 racing jurisdictions in the U.S. as shortfalls of this effort. Still others say all this work is a lot of talk and that nothing substantial has really changed. They say you can’t legislate morality or responsibility.

The events leading up to the running of the 2009 Kentucky Derby speak differently.

Decisions by the connections of several Derby contenders demonstrate an increased awareness of safety issues and a commitment to “put the horse first.” Three horses were withdrawn as Derby starters in the week leading up to the race. Quality Road’s connections were unable to resolve a quarter crack. The connections of this horse could have managed him into the race. Instead they put the horse first. Win Willy was not entered due to an ankle problem, and Square Eddie was removed because of a shin injury. Most notably, the morning-line favorite in the race, I Want Revenge, was scratched in the early daylight hours of race day, not due to a fever or obvious lameness but because inflammation was found in the right front fetlock, an indication of an injury that could have placed him at risk had he raced.

Breeder and co-owner David Lanzman, trainer Jeff Mullins, and veterinarian Dr. Foster Northrop weren’t just talking a good game. They walked the walk. This is the first time in Derby history that the morning-line favorite was scratched the day of the race. They put the excitement, the hopes, and the dreams of the moment aside. They put the horse first.

A number of heroes surround this year’s Derby. On the backside of the racetrack, people are focused on safety. They are taking greater individual responsibility for their actions. It’s true we haven’t accomplished all of our goals yet, but correcting the course of the racing industry is a massive endeavor and can’t be turned quite as quickly as we might like.

However, there is progress, and the horse is the beneficiary. Safety issues are at the forefront of racing. First you change the attitude, and the behavior follows. As long as responsible horsemen stay focused on the safety and welfare of the horse, we will continue to make progress toward our goals of reform.

The Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and others have all been working to pass model rules that promote uniformity and increased safety and integrity. The AAEP’s recommendations on racehorse safety provided a veterinary viewpoint to insure that in the process of racing reform, the horse was the priority.
Horses are the better for all of these efforts.

We can all celebrate the first weekend in May. It was a remarkable weekend on a number of levels. Congratulations to Calvin Borel and the connections of Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird for two performances for the ages.

Behind the scenes, horsemen are working to improve the sport and put the horse first. We should celebrate that as well.

Dr. Scott Palmer is the owner of New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J., and is chair of the AAEP’s racing committee.

Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:47:00 GMT

“History consists of a series of accumulated imaginative inventions.” - Voltaire

As a Thoroughbred owner, I stand on the shoulders of giants. Horse racing’s tradition and history are like no other. However, in the past 30 years, we’ve been surpassed by the major sports leagues. Being a traditionalist, I don’t blame the caretakers for this lapse. When you have more than 100 Kentucky Derbys, it’s easy to say, “Hey, we’re doing something right.”

Major League Baseball suffered the same fate. However, in the 1990s, recognizing what was happening around them, the MLB powers that be reversed course. Lights at the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field and advertising on their field of dreams were only a few of the needed changes. They even sped up their “timeless” game, which was then clocking in at more than three hours. Baseball grew up. Better yet, it did so while maintaining its rich history. The last time I checked, they still observed the seventh inning stretch.

It’s time for Thoroughbred racing to follow baseball’s lead.

When Big Brown entered the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs, jockey Kent Desormeaux switched his riding helmet for a UPS Racing Team hat. Two days later, UPS and Big Brown’s connections struck a marketing deal.

We should be thrilled for this possible new revenue stream for owners, except for one small problem. It’s against the rules!

Both the name of the winner of the Run for the Roses and the ensuing marketing deal violate Section V.6. of The Jockey Club Rule Book. “Names of horses clearly having commercial significance, such as trade names, are ineligible.” The rule has a sister component adopted by most states that doesn’t allow stable names to have any commercial value either. As has been reported on multiple occasions, co-owner Paul Pompa Jr. named the horse after the freight carrier, the United Parcel Service, or UPS. We’re not sure how this one got past the excellent folks at The Jockey Club, but instead of crying equal protection, owners should look at this as an opportunity.

It’s time to repeal the entire rule.

Without going into a financial analysis of the horse racing industry, let’s assume for the sake of argument we’re in some trouble. We’ve tried almost every marketing campaign known to man, except the one staring at us in the face. With promising champions being whisked away to the breeding sheds too early, I can think of no better marketing for the sport than the advent of racing teams and names with commercial value.

Now, before everyone goes all NASCAR on me, let me say this. Our horses will not be called Miller Lite. Marketing is about creativity, trust, and understanding your fan base. If the folks at Miller brewing sponsors a team, they will want you to buy their product, not mock it. The very nature of the marketplace will demand that the traditions and pageantry remain.

In truth, I actually don’t mind a series of names centered around “taste great, less filling.” Let’s be honest, our names now aren’t much better. For some reason, I can’t name my horse “Dew It,” but “Plugmein” is acceptable. I shouldn’t have to tell you there are more T-shirts that say “Mountain Dew” than “Santa Anita Park.”

Creating new revenue for owners will have a serious trickle-down effect. More importantly, larger fan bases and connectivity with that audience will grow attendance, which will ultimately increase wagering pools. In addition, we will have also found a key component missing from the game—name recognition and staying power. Go to any Web site dedicated to a sponsored racing team and tell me you wouldn’t want to see something similar for horse racing.

I know there has been support on this issue in the past. With Big Brown making headlines and a run for the Triple Crown June 7, our fractured business finally needs to come together on this one. If California adopts it and Kentucky doesn’t, where does that get us except more infighting over the same small pie?

Apple pie, anyone?

Gary Fenton is the managing partner/CEO of Little Red Feather Racing, which is based in Los Angeles

Final Turn : jockey club

Derby Weekend Celebration - by Dr. Scott Palmer

Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton