Abraaj Sires Juvenile Stakes Winner

Champion She's a Tiger Retired from Racing

U S Treasury Reviewing Proposal on Tax Code Changes

  The United States Department of the Treasury has formally acknowledged that it is considering the request made in a bipartisan letter from 17 members of congress urging updates to the tax code that would clarify the way pari-mutuel winnings are reported, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced in early August. The response from the Treasury Department states that the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service will take the recommendations into consideration. 

  The effort has been spearheaded by the NTRA. More than 7,500 citizens signed a Change.org petition in support of the clarification within its first two months. The petition is available online here: http://chn.ge/RXZ6DW.

  "On behalf of all of racing's stakeholders, I'd like to thank the Treasury for acknowledging receipt of our request, which has attracted bipartisan support from congressmen in the states with the largest racing industries," said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. "The additional overwhelming support we have seen from tracks, horsemen and fans is reflective of the positive economic impact these simple changes would have on all segments of the racing industry."

  The letter, initially delivered to the Treasury in June, was co-authored by Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY). The additional signatories are Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY), Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR), Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Rep. David Jolly (R-FL), Rep. Rich Nugent (R-FL), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Rep. Todd Young (R-IN).

  A copy of the full Boustany-Yarmuth letter can be accessed here. 

Pony Up Rescue Fundraiser and Dinner Auction

   Keeneland Sales announced on August 1 that 4,181 yearlings have been entered in their 70th annual September Yearling Sale, scheduled to be held September 8-21. The online edition of the marathon sale became available at www.keeneland.com on August 5 and they will be mailing the print version of the catalogs on August 18.

  Fasig-Tipton held their 2014 boutique sale of yearlings at Saratoga on August 3-4. Of the 165 yearlings cataloged, 114 sold for a $237,500 median (down from $250,000 in 2013) and $291,965 average (down slightly from the 2013 sale's $295,093). The sale had 21 outs and another 27 were listed as not sold.

  The sales topper at $1,250,000 was a filly by War Front out of Charming, a young half-sister to 2013 champion and Travers Stakes (G1) winner Will Take Charge and Florida Derby (G1) winner Take Charge Indy.

  A half-sister to 2013 champion She's a Tiger and Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger, from the first crop of three-time champion Gio Ponti, was purchased for $500,000 by John Ferguson for Darley. Bred by Dr. Rodney Orr, the filly is a daughter of Emerald Downs stakes winner Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Road.

  A filly from the first crop of champion Uncle Mo out of the unraced Unbridled's Song mare Erica's Melody sold for $450,000. Among Erica's Melody's three winners is U S Bank Stakes third Jasmine's Melody, a daughter of Artax whose first foal - a filly by Tribal Rule - has been consigned by DiPietro Thoroughbreds to the 2014 WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale.

  A colt from the first crop of Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Tizway out of a stakes-producing half-sister to Washington leading sire Parker's Storm Cat sold for $425,000.

  A colt sired by freshman sire and four-time Grade 1 winner Quality Road out of stakes winner and Grade 3 stakes producer Emily Ring sold for $350,000. Emily Ring is a daughter of the unraced Washington-bred Table Run mare Commercial Run - a half-sister to Washington champion and multiple stakes producer (in Australia) Commercial Choice.

  A Giant's Causeway colt out of Emerald Distaff Handicap winner Lemon Kiss - dam of Grade 1 winner Lochte - was purchased for $300,000.

  A filly from the first crop of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Sidney's Candy out of a half-sister to stakes winner and Washington sire Abraaj and two other stakes winners was a $70,000 RNA.

   A group of North American trainers has proposed the gradual elimination of race-day medication in the United States. Under the proposal, no two-year-olds would receive race day medication beginning in 2015, and no horses of any age would receive race day medication starting in 2016. In addition, this group is supportive of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium's efforts to approve model rules for 26 controlled medications by the RCI board of directors.

  "We believe it's time to take a proactive position regarding the administration of race day medication.  American racing has always been a global leader, and it's time to restore confidence in our game and in our international standing," said D. Wayne Lukas, a Hall of Famer who is one of the trainers supporting this proposal.

  The trainers proposing the phase-out are: Thomas Albertrani, Roger Attfield, Christophe Clement, Jose Corrales, David Donk, Neil D. Drysdale, Jeremiah C. Englehart, Eoin Harty, Neil Howard, Michael E. Hushion, D. Wayne Lukas, Richard E. Mandella, Claude R. McGaughey III, Kiaran P. McLaughlin, Kenneth G. McPeek, H. Graham Motion, William I. Mott, Todd A. Pletcher, Kathy Ritvo, Jonathan E. Sheppard, Albert M. Stall, Jr., Dallas Stewart, Barclay Tagg, William Van Meter and George Weaver.

   While acknowledging that the Thoroughbred racing industry has made strides in the area of medication reform, Ogden Mills Phipps, the chairman of The Jockey Club, said on August 10, 2014, that the organization will broaden its efforts by developing a strategy that will include the pursuit of federal legislation to restore integrity and improve the perception of the sport.

  Phipps made the remarks before nearly 400 attendees at The Jockey Club's 62nd Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing at the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa in Saratoga Springs, New York, and those who watched a live video stream of the event.

  A video replay of the two-hour conference and conference transcripts are available on jockeyclub.com.

  "Our horsemen and our customers all deserve a level playing field, with uniform rules and clean competition," Phipps added. "We need the National Uniform Medication Program to be implemented in every racing state. We need uniformity of rules and greatly improved lab standards. We need a penalty structure that is strong enough to be a meaningful deterrent - not one that would allow a trainer to amass literally dozens of violations over the course of his career and continue training. And, we need to eliminate the use of all drugs on race day. "

  Reprising the rationale and words he shared publicly in late March, Phipps said, "With the safety of our horses, the integrity of competition and the general perception of the sport all at risk, we cannot afford to wait any longer."

  Phipps said The Jockey Club will continue to advocate for reform in many statehouses across the country. He mentioned Florida, New York and Texas. Representatives of The Jockey Club will also continue to work closely with racing commissions throughout the country.

  "As is the case with any initiative created, embraced or supported by The Jockey Club, we will do what we think is in the best interest of this industry," he added. "This is, and will continue to be, a serious, multi-pronged effort to achieve the reform we need."

  Phipps made those remarks right after Stuart S. Janney III, the vice chairman of The Jockey Club and chairman of its Thoroughbred Safety Committee, delivered a progress report on medication reform.

Janney noted that: Nine of 38 states have fully implemented a two-tier drug classification system (controlled therapeutic medications and prohibited substances); Twelve of 38 states have implemented a system in which administration of furosemide is administered solely by veterinarians designated by the local regulatory authority; Five drug-testing labs, covering racing in 21 states, have been fully accredited by RMTC; Six of 38 states have adopted the new RCI Penalty Guidelines for Multiple Medication Violations; Five states (Delaware, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Virginia) have adopted all four phases of the National Uniform Medication Program.

  Washington HBPA Executive Director MaryAnn O'Connell, who sits on both the National Model Rules Working Committee and the National HBPA Medication Committee, reports that Washington has adopted over 95 percent of the Model Rules. Where Washington differs from the Model Rules is on the third party administration of Lasix, due to the lack of feasibility, and that Washington has adopted only those thresholds that have peer-reviewed science behind them. O'Connell went on to emphasize that medication rules in Washington are continually reviewed and revised as new information and science become available. For more information on Washington's medication rules, you may contact the WHBPA offices at (253) 804-6822.

  The first half of the conference included segments devoted to drug testing and enforcement, as well as programs dedicated to the enhancement of jockey safety and welfare. Dennis Egan, the chief executive of the Irish Turf Club, delivered the report on jockey safety, and Matt Iuliano, the executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club, unveiled two new recommendations, which pertain to continuing education for horsemen and enhanced promotion of an integrity hotline, from the Thoroughbred Safety Committee. The recommendations are available through the Thoroughbred Safety Committee section of jockeyclub.com.

  The second half of the program featured reports on foal crops and horse inventory, as well as marketing initiatives utilized by both The Jockey Club and the National Football League. Brian Rolapp, the executive vice president of NFL Media and the president and CEO of the NFL Network, shared insights into the NFL's media strategies.

   The Jockey Club is projecting a 2015 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 22,000.

  The projections for the 2013 and 2014 foal crops were 23,000 and 22,000, respectively.

 "The projection for the 2015 foal crop is based on reports of mares bred received to date, and we estimate that approximately 80 percent of those reports have been received," said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club's executive vice president and executive director.

  Additional foal crop information is available in The Jockey Club's Online Fact Book at jockeyclub.com/factbook.asp and in the online State Fact Books.

  The foal crop projection, traditionally announced in mid-August, is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2014 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by

August 1 of each breeding season.

  Stallion owners who have not returned their RMBs for the 2014 breeding season are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Interactive RegistrationTM, which enables registered users to perform virtually all registration-related activities over the Internet, is the most efficient means of submitting RMBs and is available at registry.jockeyclub.com.

Other News

   Six-year-old Washington-bred mare Pursue the Moon, a daughter of Chumaree-Moon Pursuit, by Skywalker, bred by Homer Thoroughbreds - who stand her sire - won a five-furlong maiden special weight race at Les Bois Park by 7 3/4 lengths on August 6.

  Four-year-old My Pal Sully, who was bred and is owned by Malon L. Cowgill, went gate-to-wire to win an about five-furlong maiden special weight race at Tillamook by 7 1/2 lengths on August 7. The new winner is a Washington-bred son of Prospected-Maid in Monroe, by Gilded Time.

  On August 2, Mark Dedomenico LLC, Dr. George Todaro and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's Grade 2 stakes winner Broken Sword, finished second, a half-length behind winner Iotapa in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. The four-year-old daughter of Broken Vow-Katana (NZ), improved her record to 3-1-3 from ten starts and increased her earnings to $220,660. Also winning on the same card was Dedomenico, Todaro and Mark Schlaich's four-year-old California-bred Prime Issue. The son of Tannersmyman defeated Lola Sample's homebred four-year-old Deraptor, by Dearchy, by a head in a mile allowance/$20,000 optional claiming (N) race. Prime Issue, who went gate-to-wire in his sixth win, has earned $129,740. And in the seventh race, Todaro and partners Skip Tony, a five-year-old gelding by Mizzen Mast, won a nine-furlong starter allowance to increase his earnings to $135,729. Todaro and Hollendorfer also had a win at Santa Rosa on August 3 when Ruled by Kisses, ridden by Russell Baze, won a five-furlong allowance/$25,000 optional claiming (N) race. It was the five-year-old gelded son of Tribal Rule's third win in six starts and upped his earnings to $52,585. Running second in the turf race was 2011 WTBOA sale graduate Little Jack, a son of Tribal Rule who has earned $91,935.

  Dr. Rodney Orr's homebred Ankeny Hill, who had won a maiden special weight race at Emerald Downs in April 2013 in his initial start, took his fourth win in an allowance/$62,500 optional claiming (N) race by 3 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on August 2. The four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Sharp Humor out of 2001 Emerald Downs juvenile filly champion Ashbecca, who is trained by Mark Glatt, set a new five-furlong track mark of :56.07. He has earned $152,807.

  Nine-year-old Button Um Up won the $5,743 Evergreen Park/ACTRA/Troyer Town Distaff Series 2nd Stakes by a neck at Grande Prairie in a blanket finish by the top five mares. Bred by Larry O. Hillis, the daughter of Moon Up T. C.-Ivory Buttons, by Game Plan, improved her record to 17-15-5 from 70 outings and has earned $79,096. She was one of a trio of Washington-bred winners on the seven-race August 2 card, which also included seven-year-old Private Swing (bred by White Mountain Stables) and six-year-old Majora Gold (bred by Dale Mahlum), both sons of El Dorado Farm stallion Private Gold, as was Washington-bred Mack's Gold Bullet (bred by Ron McCormick), who won on the previous day's card at the Alberta track.

  Bella Colomba became the second winner from the first Washington crop of Pulse Ranches' Preachinatthebar when she won her first race, a $25,000 maiden claimer at Emerald Downs on August 3, by 3 3/4 lengths.  Owned by Eagle Valley Stable and bred and trained by Mary Pirone, the two-year-old filly is the first winner from two foals produced out of the Pirone family's $125,379 stakes-placed Wine and Spirits, a daughter of Tethra.

  2008 Emerald Downs champion juvenile male and multiple graded stakes winner Gallant Son, now eight, won the $56,910 Jess Jackson Owners' Handicap run at Santa Rosa on August 9. The Kentucky-bred son of Malabar Gold-Explicitly, by Exploit, who races for Chris Randall and Nick Rossi, took the five-furlong turf event by a head over Ain't No Other with Dr. George Todaro, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Marvin Kirsner and Al Morrison's Moonshine Bay, by Kela, running third. Gallant Son, who is trained by Frank Lucarelli, improved his record to 11-5-6 from 39 starts and upped his earnings to $552,278.

  Hashtag Bourbon, the son of Super Saver who won the $100,000 Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes at Mountaineer Park on August 2 to break his maiden, is out of winner Waltzing With Deb, whose $173,856 stakes-winning dam Debonair Dancer, is a daughter of former leading Washington sire Staff Writer.

  Unbeaten Spent It became the first graded stakes winner from the initial crop of 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver when he won the $300,000 Toyota Saratoga Special Stakes (G3) on August 10 at Saratoga. His second dam, the Southern California allowance winner and stakes producer Impertinent Lady (who was raced by Herman Sarkowsky and bred by Sarkowsky and Eugene Klein), is a half-sister to leading Washington sire He's Tops. A 21-year-old son of Seattle Slew, He's Tops has sired three Washington horses of the year since entering stud at Woodstead Farm in 1998.

  The July 26, 2014 issue of The Blood-Horse column Winner's Circle titled "Undefeated in Washington" featured a story on Jerre Paxton and his unbeaten filly Stopshoppingdebbie.

  Millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner Willcox Inn, a son of Harlan's Holiday who raced for a partnership which included Jack and Theresa Hodge, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Saratoga  Stud in New York for a $7,500 fee in 2015.

  2014 Brazilian Triple Crown winner Bal a Bali, whose fourth dam was Washington horse of the year Table Hands, is being treated for laminitis at Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Porter and Siena Farm had purchased son of Put It Back in July after he won the Gran Premio Brasil (G1-Brz). The colt was being readied to go to trainer Richard Mandella's barn in Southern California when a small lameness issue cropped up in early August.