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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)–A subcommittee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission unanimously recommended an anabolic steroid ban in horse racing Wednesday.
The recommendation closely mirrors the national model rule proposed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. At least 10 states have approved the model steroid rule, though Kentucky has remained a high-profile holdout.
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A group led by winemaker Jess Jackson paid $2.6 million for an 80% majority interest in rising star Curlin, who later won the Breeders Cup Classic and became Horse of the Year, in 2007.
The purchase price, long held secret, has been released for the first time in a motion filed in a civil case against Curlin’s two minority owners. Until Tuesday, the sale price had been reported to be in the $3.5 million range.
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By GREG MELIKOV
Two tracks ended their fight with horsemen’s groups assuring Calder an increase in simulcast revenue and allowing Ellis Park to race after it threatened to close.
Obviously, the tracks gave in because they faced financial disaster. But the war between both sides is far from over.
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Reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin successfully completed the first step in what could be a journey to Paris to run in the famed Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a solid work under jockey Robby Albarado over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.
Stonestreet Stables and Midnight Cry Stable’s 4-year-old son of Smart Strike worked in company with Stonestreet’s Hawaii Calls, a 4-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus, and covered 7 furlongs around the “dogs” on “firm” turf in 1:31.20. The Steve Asmussen-trained champion started the work about one length behind his workmate, who is a 2-time winner in 8 career starts, and finished on even terms. Curlin finished well as Churchill Downs clockers recorded his final quarter mile in :24.20 and his final eighth in :12.20. He galloped out one mile in 1:45.30. Hawaii Calls was timed in 1:31.40 for the seven furlongs on turf.
“We were very excited to work him, he’s a tremendous athlete,” race horse trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We were very pleased with how he looked. The main thing is that Robby loved how he felt.”
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Santa Anita Handicap winner Heatseeker, who was recently scratched from the Hollywood Gold Cup last June 28 at Hollywood Park, was retired due to a soft tissue injury that would have required a recovery period of at least 6 months.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Heatseeker won 7 of 17 career starts and won or placed in 14 of them earning him $1,177,776.
“We are extremely disappointed as we had our sights set on the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), where we figured to be one of the favorites based on Heatseeker’s dominance of his division this year,” said Heatseeker’s owner William de Burgh.
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A horse trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr., Salute the Count, that raced at Churchill Downs the day before Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby tested positive for twice the allowable level of the drug clenbuterol, a bronchodilator that helps burn fat and promote muscle growth, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA) will issue the ruling Wednesday, suspend horse trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. for 15 days and demand the horse’s owner to return the $20,000 in purse earnings, racing officials told the newspaper.
Richard Dutrow, Jr. has 10 days to appeal the penalty, which trainers often do to delay serving the suspension. However, John Veitch, the chief state steward for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, said that Dutrow waived his right to a formal hearing, and more or less accepted responsibility.
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Photos from The Blood-Horse Magazine showing Big Brown’s loose right hind hoof gave horse owner Michael Iavarone evidence of why Big Brown raced poorly in the Belmont Stakes last June 7 at Belmont Park.
Big Brown was the favorite to win the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes but ended up finishing dead last with jockey Kent Desormeaux easing the 3-year-old race horse Big Brown down the stretch. Big Brown was given a clean bill of health during a post-race veterinary examination.
“When the shoe spread, a nail could have been pinching him,” co-president of IEAH Stables Michael Iavarone said. “Or he could have been stepping on a hot nail, which would have been worse. I’m guessing the nail went back in but not in the same spot. Or it could have been a loose shoe, which would be like trying to run with a wobbly cleat.”
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By GREG MELIKOV
The Sport of Kings always gets a bad rap after a death on the racetrack. Criticism often comes from those that have no idea how the thoroughbred industry operates.
The latest chapter in the blame game involves the unfortunate demise of filly Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby after running a valiant second, then collapsing on the Churchill Downs main track and having to be euthanized.
The salvos fired soon after the tragedy were many: Fillies shouldn’t race against males, Eight Belles must have been on steroids, it’s a money hungry industry with no regard for the horses, etc.
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Jockey Jose Lezcano tied a Monmouth Park record by riding 6 winners on Sunday, including Coli Bear in the $70,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes.
Jose Lezcano, who now leads the track’s rider standings with 42 victories, won the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th races on Monmouth Park’s June 22 horse racing card. He tied the mark first set by Walter Blum in 1961, then equaled in 1984 by Chris Antley, in 1987 by Julie Krone and by Joe Bravo in 1994, 2002, 2005 and 2006.
The record-tying performance came a day after jockey Jose Lezcano, a 23-year-old native of Panama, escaped serious injury when he was unseated by his mount during a race.
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Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan suffered minor injuries in a spill in the first race Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. He was taken to Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville for x-rays, which revealed no broken bones or serious injuries, according to his agent Doc Danner.
Bridgmohan, who will turn 29 on Tuesday, was riding Vinstar for owner Stonestreet Stable and horse trainer Steve Asmussen. Vinstar appeared to take a bad step near the sixteenth pole in the six-furlong sprint and Bridgmohan was dropped in the process of trying to pull the colt up.
The rider appeared to have been kicked by a trailing horse as he rolled under the rail. Bridgmohan was taken to First Aid complaining of pain in his left leg and right arm before being transported to the hospital.
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