Wednesday, March 24, 2010

“Study Finds Two Horse Racing Deaths Per Every 1,000 Starts (LEX 18 Lexington)” plus 2 more

“Study Finds Two Horse Racing Deaths Per Every 1,000 Starts (LEX 18 Lexington)” plus 2 more

Study Finds Two Horse Racing Deaths Per Every 1,000 Starts (LEX 18 Lexington)

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 04:44 PM PDT

Posted: Mar 24, 2010 7:21 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A new count by North American horse tracks has found that more than two of every 1,000 thoroughbreds that started a race sustained a fatal injury.

The preliminary numbers from the Jockey Club's equine injury database cover a one-year period that ended in November 2009. Only racing injuries involving thoroughbreds were counted, not accidents
that happened to other breeds or during morning training.

Jockey Club executive director Matt Iuliano said he hoped the information could be used as a "benchmark" to guide safety improvements that have been heightened since the high-profile
racing deaths of Barbaro and Eight Belles.

Another count last year by The Associated Press found at least 1,200 horses were reported killed in 2008 at thoroughbred tracks in the United States.

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Attorneys clash on historic horse racing machines (Lincoln Journal Star)

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 11:31 AM PDT

The chairman of Nebraska State Racing Commission says allowing the commission to use horse-racing machines at state race tracks is legal because it is an extension of the parimutuel wagering already allowed by the constitution.

But letters from Attorney General Jon Bruning several years ago indicate he had serious reservations about the constitutionality of the machines that allow customers to wager on already-run races.

Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh is sponsor of a bill (LB1102) that would allow the racing commission to put historic horse racing machines at state racetracks in an attempt to raise money for building a new track in Lincoln. Supporters say the money from this gambling is necessary to saving the horse racing industry in the state.

Dennis Lee, chairman of the Nebraska State Racing Commission and an attorney, said that all wagers placed on historical horse races would be placed using the parimutuel method, and all winnings would be paid out using the parimutuel method.

In a March 23 letter to Lautenbaugh, Lee said he has looked at similar horse racing in Arkansas, the first state to use the machines.

"In my discussion with commissioners and staff of the Arkansas Racing Commission, I have confirmed that the Arkansas legislation is constitutional and, further, that the Arkansas Racing Commission has not had any problems in regulating the pari-mutuel wagers placed on historic horse racing," Lee wrote.

However, letters from the Nebraska Attorney General's office several years ago offer a different opinion.

If the Legislature approved the use of historic racing machines "there is a serious question as to whether such wagering would be permissible under the Nebraska constitution..." Bruning said in a 2003 letter to the lobbyist for the state's horse racing industry.

The attorney general's letter traces the constitutional amendments that allow parimutuel wagering in Nebraska.

In 1934 voters approved a constitutional amendment permitting wagering on live races. In 1987 voters extended that to simulcast wagering on live races in Nebraska and in 1988 to simulcast wagering on live races anywhere, according to the letter.

"No intent to allow betting on historic races through video gambling terminals is evident from the history or language of this amendment," the letter said.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.

This is a developing story. Stay with JournalStar.com for updates.

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Horse racing returns on April 10-11 (Douglas Dispatch)

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 10:28 PM PDT

Horse racing is returning to the Cochise County Fairgrounds.

Fairgrounds Manager Karen Strongin announced last week enough state funding has been allocated this year allowing her to put on one weekend of horse racing.

Strongin said the dates she was given were April 10-11.

"We plan to have a nice variety of Thoroughbred and Quarter horse races," she said. "The track has been maintained and we're excited to be able to bring the races back to Douglas this year."

The El Moro de Cumpas trials will be held in Douglas that weekend with the finals to be in Sonoita for the second straight year. The Sonoita Derby Trials will also take place in Douglas as will the John Ray Memorial.

Strongin is hoping to have at least 10 races each of the two days.

With the economic situation the way it is there will be no increase in the price of the admission or the cost of the programs.

A St. Patrick's Day dance is scheduled for this Saturday (March 20) from 8 p.m. to midnight. Money raised will be used for the upcoming horse races. There will be door prizes and green beer. Tickets are $5.

"This board is determined to continue onward with all the traditions we have here," Strongin said. "We're like everybody else … in a funding crunch."

Kingman has cancelled its horse races this year and Safford is running just one weekend like Douglas.

Safford will run this March 20-21, then Strongin said there will be no races the next two weekends.

Douglas will have its races; there will be no racing April 17-18 with Sonoita running April 24-25 and May 1-2 which is Kentucky Derby weekend.

Strongin says what happened last year was beyond her on anyone's on the boards control and they would have loved to have had the horse races but with the timing of the state budget cuts that was just not possible.

"Our legislators are working really hard for us," she said. "They don't want to see this go away either. … They just had to wait and see what kind of funding was going to be available for the fourth quarter period.

"We want to race, we will race but we had to wait to hear from the state as to if any funds were going to be available to help us put on these races. We weren't sure if there was going to be any funding at all."

Some of the money from the state is also purse money, Strongin said.

The fairgrounds manager said she met individually which each of our state representatives and explained to them how important this event is for this area and they were able to come through for her this year.

"This event is very important for this area," she said. "People around here really like the races and look forward to us having them each year. … But it takes a lot of money to put this on."

Some horses are already starting to work out on the track. Strongin expects most of them to arrive around April 1.

Strongin says she is also looking for race sponsors and volunteers.

"If anybody in the community wants to volunteer to help do something out here and they don't have a criminal background, we would love to hear from them," she said.

 

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