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WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

Casino Night Fundraiser to Benefit the Prodigious Fund

   Those of you who know me well, know that I'm extremely passionate about horses and our Thoroughbred athletes. So, I'm excited to share with you our new initiatives for the Prodigious Fund for 2013.

   You'll also see information in the Emerald Downs condition book, in the Washington Thoroughbred magazine and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/prodigiousfund).

   The Prodigious Fund mission is to recognize and support positive efforts made within the Thoroughbred aftercare community for the re-homing, promotion and care of retired racehorses. The Fund is supported through industry contributions, per starter contributions and matching funds from Emerald Downs.
   Click here to view a flyer providing a bit more detail on our three events for 2013 - a Thoroughbred Showcase, a Thoroughbred Only Horse Show and the 100-day Trainer Challenge. If you'd like to be involved in any way, please let me know. sophiam@emeralddowns.com or click here for the order form. All proceeds will benefit retired racehorses. The tickets are tax deductible, as are any table sponsorships, which are also available.

   Thank you for your support!
   Sophia McKee, Director of Marketing, Emerald Downs

The Jockey Club/America's Best Racing Issue Open Letter to the Racing Industry

Dear Thoroughbred racing fan:

   The Jockey Club/America's Best Racing initiative, which is focused on bringing new fans to our great sport, kicks into high gear over the course of the next three weekends. Through television programs on the NBC Sports Network and NBC, plus a new entertainment-focused website and a consumer sweepstakes, our goal is to elevate our best product for new fans and for you, our current fan.

   From research and data, we know two things: We have a fan base that still numbers in the millions and our fans remain passionate about this sport.

   Over the past three years, starting with broad consumer outreach and input, there has been a roadmap laid out to increase marketing of the sport on a national level. Three components of the plan will be front and center in the next few weeks.

   Upcoming telecasts on the NBC Sports Network and NBC will feature Kentucky Derby preps from Florida, California, Louisiana, New York, Kentucky and Arkansas. They will also showcase the competition and lifestyle that resonates powerfully with audiences both young and old.

   As our current fan, we have a simple request for you: Spread the word. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your co-workers. Let them know about TV shows that lead up to "the greatest two minutes in sports."

• Saturday, March 30, 6-7 p.m. EDT: Florida Derby / Louisiana Derby (NBC Sports Network)
• Saturday, April 6, 6-7:30 p.m. EDT: Wood Memorial / Santa Anita Derby (NBC Sports Network)
• Saturday, April 13, 4:30-6 p.m. EDT: Blue Grass Stakes (NBC); 6-7 p.m. EDT: Arkansas Derby (NBC Sports Network)

   And lastly, let them know they could be the lucky winner of a trip for four to Kentucky Derby 139 on May 4, 2013, just by registering for free at this site.

   Word of mouth and social media can be powerful tools for racing - whether it's promoting our sport in personal interaction or sharing digitally online with family and friends around the country. It's a simple way to share your passion for the game.

   You, our fan, show your support in many ways - from ownership to wagering to attending the races every year. Without you, there is no game. We appreciate all you do for racing and we want others to enjoy our sport in a similar way.

   Make sure they know. Make the effort to bring a new fan to racing. Go to followhorseracing.com and you'll find all you need to share with and attract our next generation of fans.

   Sincerely,

   James L. Gagliano, President, The Jockey Club

   Jason G. Wilson, Vice President of Business Development, The Jockey Club

Other News

  Karl Krieg's homebred 2012 Washington champion handicap horse Absolutely Cool finished second in the March 23 Coyote Handicap at Turf Paradise. The six-year-old gelded son of Absolute Harmony out of 2012 Washington broodmare of the year Coup de Foudre, a daughter of Basket Weave, has spent his last eight starts running in stakes races at the Arizona track for trainer Valorie Lund with a record of 1-4-3 and a lifetime record of 5-7-4 from 20 starts and total earnings of $122,188.

On March 23, Dr. George Todaro and Jerry and Janet Hollendorfer's homebred Life is a Stone, a three-year-old California-bred filly by Globalize out of Tadita, by Indian Charlie, took her second win in a mile allowance/$50,000 (N) optional claiming race at Golden Gate in gate-to-wire fashion and has now earned $56,182.

   Though his near millionaire and multiple Grade 2 winner Bourbon Bay finished ran seventh in the San Luis Rey Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on March 16, David Heerensperger came home with a check in the 12-furlong race after his Fire With Fire, a five-year-old gelding by Distorted Humor, ran third.

   Ron's Ranger won a mile maiden special weight race at Golden Gate on March 21. The first Washington-bred winner for two-time Washington leading sire Parker's Storm Cat was bred by Roger J. Hoff out of his Announce mare Here's Carrie and races for Neil Knapp and Jim Kwong. Also winning on the same card was Richard S. Pasko's homebred three-year-old Tribal Bet. The California-bred son of Tribal Rule-Castle Bet, by Peterhof, was making his first start in the $12,500 maiden claiming race.

   Grade 2 stakes winner Blueskiesnrainbows, a four-year-old son of English Channel out of Gibson Thoroughbred Farm mare Cho Cho San, by Deputy Minister, took a mile allowance/$62,500 (N) optional claiming race by nearly four lengths on March 22 at Santa Anita. The Virginia-bred colt has earned $287,282.

   Billy J. Hipwell's homebred Valentino Bill, a three-year-old California-bred son of Comic Stripe out of Washington-bred stakes winner and $232,270 earner Pheiffer, by Lyphaness, won his first start, a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Golden Gate, by 2 1/2 lengths.

   Washington-bred four-year-old Elle Cee Dee, a daughter of Cee's Tizzy out of Ms Melange - a winning full sister to Washington champion and Grade 3 winner Slewsbox (both daughters of Slewdledo) - took a six-furlong maiden special weight race by 5 1/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion at Santa Anita on March 22. The new winner, who is trained by Vann Belvoir, was bred by Leonard Dunham and Denise Halstead and races for Halstead and Jonathan Nance. This was her second start, as in January Elle Cee Dee had finished third at Turf Paradise. Dunham is also the breeder of ten-race winner and $193,505 Washington-bred earner Ms C D Player, by Boca Rio, whose stakes-winning three-year-old son, Officer Alex, by Officer, won an allowance race at Oaklawn Park by 4 3/4-lengths on March 25. The full brother to stakes winner Officer Ipod has won half of his six starts and earned $106,572.

   Horseplayers Racing Club LLC's Katillac Charm, a three-year-old Oklahoma-bred son of Tactical Cat, scored his second victory in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Will Rogers Downs on March 19.

   Pulse Ranch stallionPreachinatthebar had another impressive winner on March 25 when his four-year-old Oklahoma-bred son Bully At the Bar proved much the best with a 5 1/4-length victory in mile maiden special weight race at Will Rogers Downs. The new winner is out of the Spend a Buck mare Grab the Buck.

   Former Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine dean and current WSU provost and executive vice president Dr. Warwick M. Bayley is leaving the university in May 2013. The 61-year-old veterinarian has plans to pursue the development of a device, which worn over a horse's nose, would measure a horse's potential race track performance. With the recording device, a rider will be able to measure his mount's metabolic and performance data as the horse exercises

   For the third straight year, the WTBOA's E-newsletter, Gate-to-Wire, has received a Constant Comment Inc. All Star Award.

   Among the 136 juveniles offered at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Selected Two-year-olds in Training Sale held on March 25 was a colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of three-time Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Elusive Diva. Originally purchased for $240,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the now named Le Bron d'Oro, was purchased by M. Henning for L. Lewis and M. Grier for $500,000. A 2001 daughter of Elusive Quality, Elusive Diva is one of five stakes horses, including Washington champion Handyman Bill, produced out of John and Doris Konecny's 2003 Washington broodmare of the year Taj Aire, a half-sister to Washington champion filly Mahaska.