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October issue of The Florida Horse magazine
Citation preview
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CINDYMIKELLP
HOTO
� Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.FTBOA Annual Membership MeetingGolden Hills Golf & Turf ClubFor Information,Please Contact the FTBOA Officeat 352/629-2160
� Friday, October 14, 2011Annual Golf ClassicGolden Hills Golf & Turf ClubFor Registration & Information,Please Contact theGolden Hills Golf and Turf Clubat 352/629-7981
� Saturday, October 15, 2011Florida Stallion StakesMy Dear Girl
Florida Stallion StakesIn Reality
Calder Race CourseFestival of the SunFor Information,Please Contact Calder Casino & Race Courseat 305/625-1311
� Tuesday - Wednesday, October 18-19, 2011OBS Fall Mixed SaleFor Information,Please Contact theOcala Breeders’ Sales Companyat 352/237-2154
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION801 S.W. 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474352-629-2160 • Fax 352-629-3603Email: [email protected] • www.ftboa.com
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4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
CONTENTSO c t o b e r 2 0 1 1 VO L 5 4 / I S S U E 8
The title of leading Florida sire by stakes winnersis coming down to a wild finish.By Jo Ann Guidry
A look back at Florida-bred Brave Raj’s stellarjuvenile season.By John Califano
Bill and Cindy Nassal, owners of Stonecliff Farmin Ocala, are enjoying the success ofFlorida-bred Currency Swap.By Jo Ann Guidry
By Connie Duff Wise
Floridian Victoria Colvin is just 13 years oldand headed to the Washington International.By Diana De Rosa
8
October is Greenways and Trails Month in Florida.
By Jamie Cohen
American Horse Slaughter Prevention ActIntroduced.
Developing a vaccination program.
Ideas Needed.By Paul Moran
COVER PHOTO: NYRACONTENTS: FLORIDA-BRED BRAVE RAJ—JEAN RAFTERY
DEPARTMENTS/COLUMNS
FEATURES
Contents_Oct.qxd:Layout 1 10/6/11 10:47 AM Page 1
FTBOA OFFICERS ANDBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred Brei, PresidentBrent Fernung, First Vice President Phil Matthews, SecondVice President
Sheila DiMare, Secretary Bonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVEVICE PRESIDENTRichard E. Hancock
801 SW 60thAvenue • Ocala, Florida 34474(352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com
American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is publishedmonthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Sta-tistical Review in February.
Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors anddo not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publicationsor the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Associa-tion. Publication of any material originating herein is expresslyforbidden without first obtaining written permission from THEFLORIDA HORSE©.
Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing inNorth America are compiled from data generated by Daily Rac-ing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Serv-ices, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., thecopyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited.
AAddvveerrttiissiinngg ccooppyy ddeeaaddlliinnee 55tthh ooff mmoonntthh pprreecceeddiinnggppuubblliiccaattiioonn.. SSuubbssccrriippttiioonnss aanndd cchhaannggee ooff aaddddrreessss:: PPlleeaasseemmaaiill ttoo –– CCiirrccuullaattiioonnss DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt.. TTHHEE FFLLOORRIIDDAA HHOORRSSEE,,880011 SSWW 6600tthh AAvvee..,, OOccaallaa,, FFlloorriiddaa 3344447744..
Printed by Boyd Brothers, Inc. BOYD
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 5
Linda Appleton PotterJoe Barbazon
Dean DeRenzoDonald Dizney
Barry W. Eisaman
Roy LermanJ. Michael O’Farrell, Jr.Jessica SteinbrennerFrancis VanlangendonckCharlotte C. Weber
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Compton
BUSINESS MANAGER
Patrick Vinzant
ART DIRECTOR
John Filer
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JoAnn Guidry
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Beverly Kalberkamp
CORRESPONDENTS
Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt
PUBLISHERFlorida Equine Publications, Inc.
(A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474
BOARD OF DIRECTORSFred Brei, President/Board ChairmanBrent Fernung, 1st Vice PresidentPhil Matthews, 2nd Vice President
Sheila DiMare, SecretaryBonnie M. Heath III, Treasurer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Caroline T. Davis
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Florida sires Shakespeare, who stands at Sig-
nature Stallions, and Exclusive Quality, a
Journeyman Stud stallion, were represented
by their first stakes winners on the racetrack in
early October.
Shakespeare’s Shkspeare Shaliyah captured the
Pilgrim Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2,
while Exclusive Quality’s Exclusively Maria
won the Cassidy Stakes at Calder
the same weekend.
Shkspeare Shaliyah, bred in
Florida by Guil and Angela
Bombonato, rolled from last to
first to win the 11⁄16-mile turf
event under Alex Solis for owner-trainer Dood-
nauth Shivmangal (For more on that victory, see
page 12 of this issue).
Shakespeare, a son of Theatrical (IRE) and an
earner of more than $1.3 million during his racing
career, is currently the 3rd-ranked freshman sire in
Florida, trailing only Ocala Stud’s High Cotton and
Journeyman’s Saint Anddan. Shkspeare Shaliyah is
his leading earnerwith a bankroll of $96,700. Shake-
speare has five winners from nine runners to hit the
track andhas amassedprogeny earnings of $281,634.
ExclusivelyMaria proved best while racing be-
tween horses to the line of the Cassidy Stakes. She
crossed the wire a neck in front of Another Ro-
mance. Owned by Sherry Parbhoo, Exclusively
Maria is trained by Bisnath Parbhoo and was bred
by DavidWylie Perkins.
Exclusive Quality, a stakes-win-
ning son of Elusive Quality, ranks
4th on Florida’s freshman list with
$248,927 in progeny earnings. He
is represented by six winners to
date. Exclusively Maria is his lead-
ing earner at $98,258.
The aforementionedHighCotton
leads all Florida freshman sires with
progeny earnings of $399,135. His
leading earner is Florida-bred Cur-
rencySwap,winner of theHopeful
Stakes (G1) at Saratoga,with a bankroll of $180,000.
Saint Anddan is next with progeny earnings of
$297,400. His leading earner is Saint D’aroak
($78,388).
With this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Thor-
oughbred Championships less than a month away
as this issue goes to press, a number of Florida-
breds have already secured a position in the start-
ing gate on racing’s biggest day thanks to victories
in Breeders’Cup “Win andYou’reWin” events.
Among the Sunshine State products guaranteed
Breeders’ Cup berths in their respective races are:
Coil and Flat Out in the Classic; Currency Swap in
the Juvenile andTeaksNorth in theTurf. First Dude
also won a “Win and You’re In” race, taking the
Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) over the summer at
Hollywood Park, but he has since been retired.
The Breeders’ Cup is set for Nov. 4-5 at
Churchill Downs, and it should be an exciting re-
newal oncemore for Florida runners. Florida-breds
captured three Breeders’Cup races last year—Big
Drama won the Sprint (G1);Awesome Feather the
Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Dubai Majesty the Filly
and Mare Sprint (G1).
If recent history is any indication of future suc-
cess, Florida-breds should have anothermemorable
Breeders’Cup showing against international com-
petition on the world stage.�
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
editor’s welcome
Michael Compton/JOE DIORIO PHOTO
Freshman SiresRepresentedby First StakesWinners
Florida sire Shakespeare (above)and Shkspeare Shaliyah
LOUI
SERE
INAG
ELPH
OTO
Exclusively Maria(below) and Florida sire
Exclusive Quality(bottom)
LOUI
SERE
INAG
ELPH
OTO
LIZLA
MONT
PHOT
O
NYRA
PHOT
O
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Without the likesofTizwayorHavredeGrace
standing in his way, Florida-bred Flat Out demon-
strated his affinity for Belmont Park, where he is
perfect in two starts, with a facile victory in the
$750,000 JockeyClubGold Cup (G1) onOct.1.
FlatOut’sGoldCupscore earnedhimanauto-
matic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at
Churchill Downs as the prestigious race is part of
the Breeders’Cup “Win andYou’re In” series.
The 5-year-old son of Flatter—Cresta Lil, by
Cresta Rider, bred byNikolaus Bock and owned
8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
By MICHAEL COMPTON
Taking on older mares for the first time did-
n’t deterFlorida-bredPomeroysPistol onSept. 24
in the Gallant BloomHandicap (G2) at Belmont
Park. The daughter of Vinery stallion Pomeroy
comfortably dispatched her older rivals and de-
feated fellow Sunshine State product Tamarind
Hall by four lengths at thewire of the 6½-furlong
fixture. She stopped the clock in 1:16.60.
“The filly is really strong. She’s so big and tal-
ented,” saidwinning rider JavierCastellano. “The
way the race unfolded, she put herself in goodpo-
sition, which helped me a lot, and when I asked
her she took off. Very nice filly, and very im-
pressive first time against older fillies.”
Pomeroys Pistolwill nowbepointed toward a
start in the Grade 1 Breeders’Cup Filly &Mare
Sprint on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs, according
to her breeder, owner and trainer,AmyTarrant.
“I thought shewas absolutely awesome,” said
Tarrant. “It was the best result we could possibly
expect: it wasn’t by a nose, it wasn’t by a head.
She pretty much dominated, I think, in the race.
We’re very excited about it, and now she is going
to go home for a nice rest and we’re going to be
looking towards the Breeders’Cup for her.We’ll
be staying atMonmouth and shippingout toKen-
tucky on Oct. 31.”
Tarrantwas confident about her charge facing
elders for the first time.
“I’mvery happy about that because that’swho
she’ll be facing in theBreeders’Cup,” saidTarrant.
“Therewill be a few3-year-olds, but itwillmostly
be theolder girls.Theywere anicegroupofhorses
today, which makes me even happier. When she
comes into the paddock like an old cart horse and
is quiet like that, she always has a great race.”
Pomeroys Pistol has now won two graded
stakes, having also taken the Grade 2 Forward
Gal in January at Gulfstream Park. Bred in
Florida by Tarrant’s Hardacre Farm, Pomeroys
Pistol is 4-3-2 in 11 starts and has earned
$450,178, including the $90,000 winner’s share
of the Foxwoods Gallant Bloom purse.
TamarindHall roundedout theFlorida exacta.
She is a daughter ofWindingOaks Farm stallion
Graeme Hall. Lovely Lil was third, followed
home by GoldMark Farm’sMoontuneMissy.
Pomeroys Pistol Fires Big Shot in Gallant Bloom
‘Flat Out’
Florida-bred Flat Out
Florida-bred Pomeroys Pistol
NYRA
PHOT
ONY
RAPH
OTO
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Grade 1 winner First Dude
will stand the 2012 breeding season at Don
Dizney’s Double Diamond Farm in Ocala,
Florida, the farm announced last month.
Double Diamond Farm was instrumental in
developing the successful stallion careers of Run-
away Groom and NorthernAfleet, and Dizney is
excited about First Dude’s prospects at stud.
“We’re very excited to offer breeders the op-
portunity to breed to First Dude,” said Dizney.
“We plan to support his books with our best
mares. I believe Florida is the best place to breed
and raiseThoroughbreds and that’s why wemade
the decision to stand him in Florida.”
A classically struck son of Stephen Got
Even—Run Sarah Run, by Smart Strike, First
Dude won this year’s Hollywood Gold Cup (G1)
at Hollywood Park, earning a career-best Beyer
Speed Figure of 106, as well as the Alysheba
Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs en route to ca-
reer earnings of $1.4 million.
Shortly after the Gold Cup victory came the
sobering news from trainer Bob Baffert that First
Dude had suffered a strained tendon that forced
his retirement.
Baffert took over the training of First Dude this
year following the colt’s 3-year-old season in which
he placed in five Grade 1
events, including two classic
races, while in the care of
trainer Dale Romans. Baffert
believesFirstDudehas all the
ingredients to be a top sire.
“He is a big, solid and
smart horse,” said Baffert. “He is just beautiful.
He is very balanced for a big horse. He was be-
coming a great horse. Hewas going to have a huge
year. He is the best older horse in the country.”
In addition to his graded stakes victories this
season, First Dudewasmultiple stakes-placed last
year at age three. He finished third in the Blue
Grass Stakes (G1), second in the Preakness
Stakes (G1) and the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and
third in the Belmont Stakes (G1), the Haskell In-
vitational (G1) and the Travers Stakes (G1).
FirstDude’s consistency in top company earned
him Florida Champion 3-year-old honors in the
FloridaThoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’As-
sociation’s Chase to the Championship in 2010.
by Preston Stables, also became racing’s newest
millionaire. The $450,000 winner’s share of the
purse boosted the OBS graduate’s career
bankroll to $1,109,713.
“This is my first Grade 1 win; you wouldn’t
believe how big this is,” said 70-year-old win-
ning trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey. “I’ve
been training since 1963. It’s tremendous. It’s
hard to fathom, but I like it.”
Ridden confidently byAlexSolis, FlatOut set-
tled comfortably behind the early pace set byRod-
man. Flat Out ranged up to the leaders around the
far turn and kicked clear at the head of the stretch.
Hewasnever seriouslychallenged through the lane
and crossed thewire in 2:03.17 for the 1¼miles.
Drosselmeyer, the 2010 Belmont Stakes (G1)
winner, finished second, 2 ¼ lengths behind the
winner.FavoredStayThirstywasnever a threat and
finished third in his first start against older.
“It’s about time, isn’t it?,” said winning owner
Art Preston. “He’s a great horse – he’s run a lot of
good seconds and everything, and he just had the
race he needed today. It’s the first Gold Cupwe’ve
run in, and towin the first one, that’s pretty special.
It was his race today. Everythingworked out.”
FlatOut’s onlyother start atBelmont resulted in
a 6½-length romp in the Suburban Handicap (G2)
in July. Following that effort, he finished second to
Tizway in theWhitneyHandicap (G1)andwas run-
ner-up toHavre deGracewhen shebeat theboys in
theWoodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in Septem-
ber. Flat Out could face both of those rivals once
more in the Breeders’CupClassic inNovember.
“He ran two real good races at Saratoga; you
can’t knock those horses he faced there,” said
Dickey.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 9
Musical RomancePrevails in Masters
Florida-bred Musical Romance summonedallher courage to register a narrow decision in thePresque IsleMasters (G2) onSept.10.BredbyOcalaStud, thedaughter of Concorde’sTune shipped fromher Calder base for trainer Bill Ka-plan to take down top prize in therich $400,000 event.
The finalmargin of victorywasa neck as she held the late ralliesof Ariana D and Shotgun Gulch atbay in the 6½-furlong test overPresque Isle’s Tapeta surface.
Impressive
First Dude to StandAt Double Diamond Farm
SERI
TAHU
LTPH
OTO
Florida-bredFirst Dude
Florida-bred Musical Romance
COAD
YPH
OTO
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Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino an-
nounced in early October the Gulfstream
VIP Fan Experience, a unique and exclusive
experience that will allow fans an all access
and behind-the-scenes look atThoroughbred
racing from the training of horses in the
morning to presenting a trophy in the win-
ner’s circle in the afternoon.
The GulfstreamVIP Fan Experience will
offer racing fans an opportunity to view
areas previously accessible only to owners
and trainers of the sport. It will also afford
them the opportunity to meet some of the
sport’s biggest stars.
The Gulfstream VIP Fan Experience has
limited space and is currently only available
on the weekends of Jan. 7, Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.
The cost is $500 per couple.
All proceeds raised through the VIP Fan
Experience will go to the Gulfstream Park
ThoroughbredAfter-Care Program (gpafter-
care.com). Established by Frank Stronach,
chairman of Gulfstream Park, the After-
Care Program helps to care and match re-
tired Thoroughbreds with owners who will
make a lifelong commitment to their health,
safety and well being. The After-Care Pro-
gram also offers a curriculum for elemen-
tary schools and opportunities to adopt and
sponsor retired Thoroughbreds.
“The Gulfstream VIP Fan Experience is
the equivalent of sitting in the dugout during
a game at Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium,
sitting on the bench during a Lakers game, or
standing on the sideline during the Super
Bowl,” said Gulfstream’s President and
General Manager Timothy Ritvo. “Gulf-
stream offers the best racing and the biggest
stars during its meet. Now fans can get in-
side the greatest sport in the world with this
all-access opportunity. It’s also a fantastic
opportunity to raise money and awareness
for our after-care program and our wonder-
ful equine athletes.”
10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Gulfstream Park Announces VIP Fan Experience
BILL
DENV
ERPH
OTO
The GulfstreamVIP Fan Experience includes:�A morning tour of Gulfstream’s backstretch and an opportunity to meet trainers and
jockeys as horses are trained and groomed. Fans will also visit with Hollywood, Gulf-
stream’s official mascot.
� Presenting a plaque in the winner’s circle to the winning connections.
�A birds-eye view of Gulfstream to watch clockers record workouts.
�Apersonal seminar on the day’s races with Gulfstream handicappers RonNicoletti, Jes-
sica Pacheco, Ed Gray or Brian Skirka.
�Watching track announcer Larry Collmus call a race.
�A tour of the jockey’s room with clerk of scales Victor Sanchez.
� Lunch at Ten Palms.
�A visit to theWalking Ring.
�A Gulfstream Park gift bag.
For more information call 954.457.6451.
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By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Flat Out won the rich
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont
Park on Oct. 1 and the following day, fellow
Sunshine State products Vexor and Shks-
peare Shaliyah successfully carried the
state’s banner to victory in a pair of stakes
for the 2-year-old set.
The victories also
carried plenty of weight
at home in Ocala. Shks-
peare Shaliyah’s vic-
tory in the Pilgrim
Stakes (G3) represented
the first stakes victory
for his sire, Shakespeare,
who stands at Signature Stallions.
Shkspeare Shaliyah settled last of six
runners early in the 11⁄16-mile race on the
inner turf underAlex Solis. He made a five-
wide move around the turn and finished
strongly under a brisk hand ride. He crossed
the wire one-length clear of Kitten’s Kid,
stopping the timer in 1:51.59.
“This morning, after I gave him a bath and
put him in the stall, he was eager to go. We
thought he might break
through the webbing,”
said winning owner and
trainer Doodnauth Shiv-
mangal. “I told everyone
he is not going to lose, I
know this horse. He is the
best horse I have ever
trained. He is very pro-
fessional.
“I knew he was going to make that one
big run, and the longer the races get, the
more he wants to go,” he added.
The Pilgrim was the first victory in a
graded stakes for Shivmangal, who indi-
cated his Florida-bred is Breeders’ Cup
bound after the impressive performance.
“We refused a lot of
money for this horse but
we didn’t sell him because we bought this
horse for my granddaughter and there is no
amount of money that can buy this horse,”
he said. “He is definitely headed to the
Breeders’ Cup [Juvenile Turf].”
Shkspeare Shaliyah, a $21,000 OBS
graduate, was bred by Guil and Angela
Bombonato and is produced from the Clever
Trick mare Tricky Mistress. He broke his
maiden over the Belmont turf in September
in his second career start.
Also on that Oct. 2
program, Florida-bred
Vexor withstood an early
pace duel to prevail in
the Nashua Stakes (G2).
The son of Journeyman
Stud stallion Wildcat
Heir pressured Trin-
niberg, by Journeyman
Stud stallion Teufles-
berg, through fractions
of 22.12 and 45.19 be-
fore poking a head in
front of that rival in the
stretch. He defeated
Trinniberg by just under a length at the wire,
stopping the clock in 1:10.71 for the six fur-
longs.
“His maiden race kind of shows it wasn’t
a fluke,” said winning conditioner John
Kimmel. “He ran a very good race up
there. We had some question marks after
he ran so poorly in the Hopeful. It was so
bad that we just kind of had to throw the
race out. He came back and had two nice
works. Today he was on the outside,
tracked the speed and was there when it
counted. It’s nice to get back and get a
good performance out of him. He’s obvi-
ously earned his way
into the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Sprint.”
A $90,000 OBS
graduate, Vexor was
bred by Carlos Rafael
and Briggs and Cromar-
tie Bloodstock and races
for GoldMark Farm. He
broke his maiden at
Saratoga in his second
career start in August.
Prior to his Nashua win,
Vexor finished a dismal
8th in the Hopeful.
12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Florida-bred Juveniles Score at Belmont
Florida-bred Vexor (above) and Wildcat Heir
NYRA
PHOT
O
Offspring of Wildcat Heir and Shakespeare notch stakes scores
Florida-bred Shkspeare Shaliyah (below)and Shakespeare
NYRA
PHOT
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LOUISE
REINAG
ELPH
OTO
LOUISE
REINAG
ELPH
OTO
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Tampa Bay Derby en-
trants have won two of the
past five editions of the Kentucky Derby, so
the eyes of theThoroughbredworld will focus
onTampa BayDownswhen the 32nd renewal
of the $350,000 showcase for 3-year-olds is
contested March 10.
The 86th season of racing at the Oldsmar
oval features 25 stakes offerings and approx-
imately $2.6 million in purses. The 92-day
meeting beginsDec. 3 and runs throughMay6,
the day after the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
TheTampaBayDerby, whichwas elevated
to Grade 2 status last year, is the highlight of
Tampa Bay Downs’ Festival Day, which fea-
tures $600,000 in guaranteed stakes purses.
Top Thoroughbred sophomores will at-
tempt to use the Tampa Bay Derby as a
springboard to success at Churchill Downs in
Louisville, following in the footsteps of 2007
Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense and
2010 Tampa Bay Derby third-place finisher
Super Saver, trained by Todd Pletcher.
Local longshots dominated the 2011
Tampa BayDerby, with the Kathleen O’Con-
nell-trained Florida-bredWatch Me Go win-
ning at odds of 43-1.
The lucrativeMarch 10 Festival Day of rac-
ing includes the$150,000,Grade3Hillsborough
Stakes for older fillies andmares at 11⁄8 miles on
the turf and the $100,000Suncoast Stakes for 3-
year-old fillies at amile and 40 yards.
Including the Suncoast
Stakes, seven stakes have been
increased by $25,000 from last season.
The Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds,
one of three stakes on the Feb. 4 racing card,
has been increased to $250,000 while re-
taining its Grade 3 status. The race has often
been used by local trainers and outside in-
terests as a prep for the Tampa Bay Derby.
Also on the Feb. 4 card is a pair of $150,000
turf races at 11⁄16 miles—the FloridaOaks for 3-
year-old fillies and the Grade 3 Endeavour
Stakes for older fillies and mares.
This is the second year the Florida Oaks
will be contested on the turf. Last year’s win-
ner, Dynamic Holiday, earned her Oaks score
as one of three consecutive stakes victories
(including the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride
Stakes at Gulfstream) for ownerAugustin Sta-
ble and trainer Graham Motion, the condi-
tioner of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner
Animal Kingdom.
The fourth-place Florida Oaks finisher,
Her Smile, won the Grade 1 Prioress at Bel-
mont on July 4 and also finished second in
the Comely Stakes at Aqueduct.
Another graded stakes on the 2011-12 cal-
endar is theGrade3TampaBayStakes for older
horses at amile and a sixteenth on Feb. 25.The
$150,000 purse repre-
sents a $25,000 jump
from last season.
Racing fans can
also look forward to
the 10th annual
Florida Cup Day on
April 7. Geared to-
ward Florida-bred horses, the Florida Cup
features six stakes worth $75,000 each.
The Tampa Bay Downs stakes schedule
begins on Opening Day, Dec. 3, with the
$75,000-guaranteed Lightning City Stakes
at five furlongs on the turf for fillies and
mares 3-and-upward. The following Satur-
day, Dec. 10, Cotillion Day, features the six-
furlong Inaugural for 2-year-olds and the
six-furlong Sandpiper for 2-year-old fillies,
both offering $75,000.
14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Florida-bred Watch Me Go
By SANTA ANITA PUBLICITYFlorida-bred Broken Dreams validated
her Hollywood Park upset of Santa Anitadownhill turf course specialist Unzip Me witha furious late rally to capture the $100,000Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (G3) on openingday at Santa Anita Sept. 30.
With Garrett Gomez at the controls, Bro-ken Dreams stormed from fifth at the six-teenth pole to defeat Givine by one-half lengthwhile covering 6½ furlongs over SantaAnita’sunique grass layout in 1:12.23. Florida-bredTanda finished a nose back in third.
Maddy Stakes defending champion UnzipMe, the 4-5 favorite who had won 5 of 7 pre-vious competitions over the course,had to set-tle for fourth.
A 5-year-old mare trained by Tom Proctorfor Leonard Lavin’s Glen Hill Farm, BrokenDreams had run second to Unzip Me in twoearlier meetings over the course before finallytaking her measure by 1¼ lengths while rac-ing six furlongs over Hollywood Park’s turf
course. Broken Dreamssubsequently finishedfourth, 1¼ lengths be-hind Unzip Me, in DelMar’s Aug. 12 Daisycut-ter Handicap at five fur-longs on turf.
“Rock and roll is all Ican say,” Proctor said following the Maddy.“She actually ran good last time in the Daisy-cutter. The stretch at Del Mar is a little short forher. It was really one of her better races, and Ithought if she could run that way today,maybeshe’d win. It’s nice to see her win a stakes.This was a good bunch of fillies.”
Broken DreamsWins Maddy Stakes
COOL
EYPH
OTO
Tampa Bay Downs Announces Stakes Schedule
Florida-bred Broken Dreams
BENO
IT&
ASSO
CIAT
ESPH
OTO
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By NYRA PRESS
Florida-bred Unbridled Humor pressed
a fast pace and maintained a clear lead in the
stretch to register a 1¾-length victory in the
$100,000 Noble Damsel (G3) Stakes last
month at Belmont Park.
Second outside longshot
Twilight Memory through an
opening quarter of 23.41 sec-
onds, Unbridled Humor pulled
to the lead midway along the
backstretch, opened a four-
length advantage on the far
turn, and was never threatened
in the stretch.
It was the first graded
stakes win and fifth victory
overall from six starts for Un-
bridledHumor, who completed
the one-mile distance on turf in 1:34.09.
Unbridled Humor opened her career with
four wins, including a triumph in the Memo-
ries of Silver overnight stakes last November
atAqueduct, before she suffered her first de-
feat in her most recent start, a seventh as the
favorite in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga Race
Course on July 30.
In the Diana, Unbridled Humor led early
as she tugged at her rider before she faded in
the stretch. This time, she rated well enough
to hold off the stretch runners.
“Ideally, trainerGrahamMotionwouldhave
liked to seenher coveredup, butwith the lackof
speed in the race thatwas going to be difficult,”
said winning jockey Ramon Dominguez, who
was aboard the 4-year-old filly
for the first time in her career. “I
just took a long hold. She was
eager, butwithin reason.Turning
for home, she switched leads on
her own and she picked it up
pretty nicely. I’m very happy
withher.Typically, horses tend to
relax more when they are cov-
ered up, and that’s been the case
with her. Even when she is not
covered up,when she has a cou-
ple of horses to look at, she
seems to relax better. But she is
pretty versatile; you can do pretty much what
youwant with her.”
The victory was gratifying for Motion’s
team, which has copedwith the filly’s
personality quirks.
“She’s quite difficult,” said
HeatherCraig, assistant toMotion.
“We’ve had some issues with her
as far as getting to the gate, getting
to the track. She was so well behaved
today, and Ramon did an excellent job. We
were a little concerned that she was that close
to the lead and that they went that quick, but it
seems as long as you keep her happy, regard-
less of how slow or quick she goes, she runs
well. She’s an amazing filly. We’re happy to
train at Fair Hill all the time. It seems to really
benefit her.”
Unbridled Humor, a Live Oak Plantation
daughter of Distorted Humor, has earned
$177,520, including the $60,000 winner’s
share of the Noble Damsel purse.
16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
The Jockey Club ReleasesBreeding Statistics
The Jockey Club last month reported
that 2,904 stallions covered 44,184 mares
in NorthAmerica during 2010, according
to statistics compiled through Sept. 7,
2011. These matings have resulted in
23,558 live foals of 2011 being reported
to The Jockey Club on Live Foal Reports
received as of Sept. 7, 2011.
The Jockey Club estimates that the
number of live foals reported, at this
point in time, is approximately 85 per-
cent complete. The reporting of live foals
of 2011 is down 13.5 percent from last
year at this time when The Jockey Club
had received reports for 27,233 live foals
of 2010.
“The decline in breeding activity in re-
cent years has resulted in a downward
trend for live foal returns that is expected
to continue next year, based on our re-
cently announced foal crop estimate of
24,700 for 2012,” said Matt Iuliano, The
Jockey Club’s executive vice president
and executive director.
In Florida, 3,233 mares were bred in
2010 and 1,565 live foals have been re-
ported this year, marking a drop of 25.4
percent from last year’s 2,097 live foals.
Florida ranks third in the country
by number of live foals, trailing
Kentucky (11,065) and Cali-
fornia (1,762) and just ahead of
fourth-place Louisiana (1,516).
The 2011 registered foal crop
projection of 27,000 takes into ac-
count that not all live foals become regis-
tered. In addition to the 23,558 live foals
of 2011 reported through Sept. 7, The
Jockey Club had also received 3,731 No
Foal Reports for the 2011 foaling season.
The number of stallions declined 7.2
percent overall from the 3,130 reported
for 2009 at this time last year, while the
number of mares bred decreased 10.6
percent from the 49,404 reported for
2009.
“Even when she isnot covered up,
when she has a cou-ple of horses to lookat, she seems to
relax better. But sheis pretty versatile;you can do prettymuch what youwant with her.”—jockey
Ramon Dominguez
Unbridled Humor ComposedIn Noble Damsel VictoryCO
GLIA
NESE
PHOT
O
Florida-bred Unbridled Humor
Live Oak homebred wins first graded stakes
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“He is the best older horse in the country. He is just beautiful.He’s a big, solid and smart horse. He is very balanced for a big horse.He was becoming a great horse.”—Bob Baffert
First DudeStephen Got Even—Run Sarah Run, by Smart Strike
retires toDouble Diamond Farmin Ocala, Florida, with a bankroll of$1.4 million in a brilliant racing career.
Winner:(G1) Hollywood Gold Cup(G3) Alysheba Stakes
Placed:(G1) Blue Grass Stakes(G1) Preakness Stakes(G1) Belmont Stakes(G1) Haskell Invitational(G1) Travers Stakes(G2) Pennsylvania Derby
HORS
EPH
OTOS
PHOT
O
SERI
TAHU
LTPH
OTO
FirstDudeSpread3_USEOpportunity.qxd:Layout 1 10/5/11 2:39 PM Page 18
Contact Melissa Anthony for stallion inquiries899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 • (352) 237-3834 Fax: (352) 237-6069 • visit-www.doublediamondfarm.com
Also StandingAmerican Spirit • Wekiva Springs
A history of successbegins with attention
to the individual.
899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 • (352) 237-3834 Fax: (352) 237-6069 • visit-www.doublediamondfarm.comContact Melissa Anthony for stallion inquiries
FirstDudeSpread3_USEOpportunity.qxd:Layout 1 10/6/11 10:59 AM Page 2
20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 21
Florida-bred Flat Outrolled to an impressive victoryover a sloppy track in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 1at Belmont Park. Flat Out’s win over the 1¼ miles earned him aberth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 5.
The 5-year-old son of Flatter was bred by Nikolaus Bock and races forPreston Stables. Flat Out’s victory provided his 70-year-old trainer,
Chalres “Scooter” Dickey, with his first Grade 1 win.
Flat Out was foaled in Florida at Gary Mesnick andNorman Dellheim’s The Summit and was sold by
Thoroughstock.
NY
RA
PH
OTO
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By JO ANN GUIDRY
It's turning into a wild race to the finish for the title
of leading Florida sire by 2011 stakes winners.After
being tied for weeks at six each, Wildcat Heir
moved ahead by one over Pomeroy in the last week of
September.Through the end of September, Journeyman
Stud's Wildcat Heir had recorded seven stakes winners
and Vinery's Pomeroy had posted six. Here's a look at
the two stallions' leading 2011 progeny.
WILDCAT HEIR – 7 STAKES WINNERS
The leading earner forWildcat Heir to date this sea-
son is Florida-bred stakes winner John Johnny Jak, who
has banked $139,971.The 4-year-old ridgling out of the
the Saint Ballado mare PureAdrenalin has been consis-
tent, winning two stakes and placing in two others.
Bred by Murray Smith and racing for Kretz Racing
LLC, John Johnny Jak won the Carterista Starter Stakes
onApril 24 at Gulfstream Park. He then scored a victory
in the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes onAug. 24 at Del Mar.
In addition, John Johnny Jak was second in both the
Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar andMecke Stakes at Calder.
Wildcat Heir is also represented this season by
Florida-bred graded stakes winnerWildcatMarie. Bred
by CloverLeaf Farms and Brent Fernung,WildcatMarie
captured the Whimsical Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on
April 23. She was also third in the Hendrie Stakes (G3)
at Woodbine and in the Satin and Lace Stakes at
Presque Isle Downs. A 4-year-old filly out of the Wild
Rush mare Miss Rachel Marie, Wildcat Marie is raced
by Joseph Baldesarra and Partners. On the season, she
has earned $129,182 to date.
Black Diamond Cat was a two-time stakes winner at
Calder during the summer.On July 4, the 4-year-old geld-
ing won the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Stakes for owner
BluestoneThoroughbreds LLC.He came back onAug. 6
to score awin in theMajorMoran Stakes.Also second in
theWhippleton Stakes at Calder, BlackDiamondCat has
22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
The title of leading Florida sire by stakeswinners is coming down to a wild finish.
SiresBySW_WildRace.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:07 AM Page 22
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 23
banked $128,805 to date this season. Out of theMiswaki
mare SweetGlory, BlackDiamondCatwas bred byMike
Eckman andMark and Debbie Ravenscraft.
Another double stakes winner forWildcat Heir this
season is Florida-bred Wild About Marie, who won a
pair at Fair Grounds. Raced by Ike and Dawn Thrash,
Wild About Marie tallied wins in the Dr. A.B. Leggio
Memorial Stakes on Jan. 22 and Bienville Stakes on
March 19. She also posted seconds in both the Giant's
Causeway Stakes at Keeneland and Satin and Lace
Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. Bred by partners Robert
Dodd, Tonya Jurgens and Dry Creek Stables LLC, the
4-year-old filly is out of the Valid Wager mare Joyful
Wager. To date this season, Wild About Marie has
banked $115,035.
Rounding out Wildcat Heir's list of current stakes
winners are Karmageddon and Breathoffreshair. Kar-
mageddon, a 4-year-old filly, won the Jersey Girl Hand-
icap and was second in the Open Mind Handicap at
Monmouth Park. Breathoffreshair, a 3-year-old filly,
captured the Ruthless Stakes and was second in the
Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct.
Wildcat Heir is also represented to date this season
by seven stakes-placed runners: Wildcat Aly, Jocata,
Greatful Heir, Banner Cat, Sonofawildcat, Future
Covenant and Depeche Cat.
By Forest Wildcat out of the stakes-producing Pen-
telicus mare Penniless Heiress, Florida-bred Wildcat
Heir was a Grade 1 stakes winner of $424,460. Enter-
ing stud in 2006, Wildcat Heir was the 2009 leading
Florida freshman and juvenile sire. In 2010, Wildcat
Heir was the leading Florida general sire and juvenile
sire. Wildcat Heir stands as property of Taylor
Made/WinStar Venture and New Farm at Brent and
Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud.Florida sireWildcat Heir
LOUI
SERE
INAG
ELPH
OTO
Entering stud in 2006,Wildcat Heir was the 2009 leading
Florida freshman and juvenile sire. In 2010,Wildcat Heir was
the leading Florida general sire and juvenile sire.
SiresBySW_WildRace.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/5/11 1:37 PM Page 23
POMEROY – 6 STAKES WINNERS
Among Pomeroy's six stakes winners are multiple
graded Florida-bred stakes winners Pomeroys Pistol
and Flashpoint. Pomeroys Pistol gets the nod as his
leading earner with a hefty bankroll of $401,188 to
date this season.
Owned and trained byAmy Tarrant, Pomeroys Pistol
was also bred in the name of Tarrant's Hardacre Farm.
Pomeroys Pistol kicked off the season with an impressive
win in theForwardGal Stakes (G2) atGulfstreamPark on
Jan. 30. She followed thatwith a tally in the Just Smashing
StakesonJune11atMonmouthPark.PomeroysPistolwas
back in thewinner's circlewith awin in theGallantBloom
Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park on Sept. 24.
Sandwiched in between thosewins, Pomeroys Pistol
posted a quartet of graded stakes-placings. Shewas sec-
ond in the Prioress Stakes (G1), Test Stakes (G1) and
Old Hat Stakes (G3), as well as finishing third in the
Davona Dale Stakes (G2).A 3-year-old filly, Pomeroys
Pistol is out of the Point Given mare Prettyatthetable.
Flashpoint, raced byPeachtree Stable,won theHutch-
eson Stakes (G2) on Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park to begin
the year on a graded stakes-winning note. He made it a
pair with a tally in the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) on July 3
atMonmouth Park. Bred by Silverleaf Farms, Flashpoint
is a 3-year-oldgray/roan colt out ofTwoPunchLil, byTwo
Punch.To date this season, he has earned $262,700.
Florida-bred Positive Response, a 3-year-old geld-
ing out of the Farma Way mare Lisa's Approval, has
won two stakes to date this season. Bred by Rosebrook
Farms LLC andMoreau Bloodstock International, Pos-
tive Response won the California Derby on Jan. 15 at
Golden Gate Fields. Twomonths later, he scored a win
in the John BattagliaMemorial Stakes atTurfway Park.
Also third in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden
Gate Fields, Positive Response has banked $148,520 to
date this season.
Pomeroy is also represented this season by stakes
winners Mel Beach (Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes),
Golden Springs (Island Fashion Stakes) and URBurn-
ing Daylite (Golden Boy Stakes). In addition, Pomeroy
Star is stakes-placed in Puerto Rico.
A multiple Grade 1 stakes winner of $845,050,
Pomeroy is by Boundary out of Questress, by Seeking
the Gold. Pomeroy entered stud in 2007 and stands at
Vinery Florida.�
24 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Wild Race
Florida sire Pomeroy
LOUI
SERE
INAG
ELPH
OTO
Pomeroy's stakes
winner Pomeroys
Pistol gets the nod
as his leading
earner with a hefty
bankroll of
$401,188 to date
this season.
SiresBySW_WildRace.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:08 AM Page 24
NYRA
PHOTO
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603
www.ftboa.com [email protected]
Experience the thrill of victory in Florida's Thoroughbred industry.To learnmore about breeding and owning racehorses in the Sunshine State,
call us today or visit us on the web at www.ftboa.com
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
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26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
the Bright SeasonBy JOHN CALIFANO
Twenty-five years have elapsed since she
streaked across the racing firmament,
only to disappear after one bright
season. She packed a lot of punch into nine
starts and became a Breeders’ Cup winner,
divsional champion, and richest two-year-
old female ever at that point in time; and
there is no telling what she might have
achieved in maturity.
The dark bay/brown filly Brave Raj was bred
in Florida by Dr. W.S. Karutz, and foaled in 1984.
Originally owned by Al-Ben Partnership and condi-
tioned by Ben Perkins Jr., Brave Raj was privately pur-
chased by Dolly Green for $300,000 after breaking her
maiden and sent to the stable of California-based horseman
Melvin F. Stute.
FAMILY TIES
Brave Raj was sired by Rajab out of the Bravo mare
BravestYet. Rajab, a chestnut horse, was a mulitple graded
stakes-placed performer in 1977, his best efforts com-
BraveRaj.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:45 AM Page 26
ing in Santa Anita’s San Fernando
Stakes and San Bernadino Handicap and Holly-
wood Park’s Bel Air Handicap, all over 11⁄8 miles.
Brave Raj’s grandsire, Jaipur, in 1961 at age two, won
the seven-furlong Cowdin and 6½-furlong Hopeful
Stakes. The following year he was named three-year-old
male champion after winning the 1½-mile
Belmont Stakes, eclipsing Man o’War’s track
record in the 1¼-mile Travers Stakes, and cap-
turing the 11⁄8-mile Jersey Derby. He also won
the mile Withers and Gotham Stakes.
Rajab’s dam, Classicist, was
sired byPrincequillo (GB),
out of the Stymie
mare Classic
Music. The stakes-winning Princequillo was one of the
sport’s great sires and broodmare sires. The exceedingly
popular champion Stymie had seven campaigns during the
1940s, became racing’s first $900,000 earner, and the
sport’s all-time money leader before being surpassed by
Citation. Brave Raj was also inbred 3x4, top and bottom,
to Nasrullah (GB), an English champion two-year-old,
among the breed’s greatest stallions, and sire of
Nashua and Bold Ruler.
BraveRaj’s first five damswere not re-
markable racers, norwas her broodmare
sire Bravo, from 11 starts. Bravo
however, was sired by Bold Ruler,
the 1957 Horse of theYear, and
American racing’s leading
sire of the 20th century,
heading the list eight
times, and counting nu-
merous champions
among his descen-
dents, most no-
tably Secretariat.
“I talked to Ben Jr., and he saidhe’d get a hold of his dad, and that’s how the deal
started. Nice filly to be around. Not big, not little.I’d say about the right size, probably close to fifteen,three. I was impressed by her. She was alwaysimpressive in workouts.”—Mel Stute
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 27
FOUR
FOOT
EDPH
OTO
BraveRaj.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:16 AM Page 27
Bravo was out of the Ambiorix (FR.) mare Magneto.
Ambiorix, who would becomeAmbiorix II, was lightly
raced but still good enough to become two-year-old
French champion in the late 1940s.
Brave Raj’s second dam, Perfect Hand, was sired by
the gray black-type winner Hand to Hand, himself by
gray two-year-old champion Warfare, a son of Deter-
mine, who was the first gray colt to win the Kentucky
Derby. Determine sired another Derby winner, the gray
California-bred colt Decidedly.
Her third dam, the unracedTurnAhead, was sired by
black-type winner DeadAhead. Brave Raj’s fourth dam,
Millie H., was byMark-Ye-Well, a bay colt by the mag-
nificent stallion Bull Lea, out of the Bleinheim II (GB)
mareMar-Kell. Bull Lea producedmany luminaries, in-
cluding his greatest son, Citation. Bleinheim II was sire
of 1941 U.S.,Triple Crown winner Whirlaway, and
broodmare sire of such illustrious figures as Coaltown,
Hill Gail, and Kauai King.
Mark-Ye-Well won the 1952Arlington Classic, when
contested at a mile, 11⁄8-mile American Derby and 15⁄8-
mile Lawrence Realization at age three. He captured the
1¼- mile Santa Anita Handicap at four, under 130
pounds, in addition to the 11⁄16-mile San Fernando Stakes.
He returned at age five and annexed the 11⁄8-mile San
Antonio Handicap, under 130, in addition to the 1¼-
mile San Marcos Handicap on the
turf. The following year, the six-year-
old Mark-Ye-Well equaled the track
record of 1:48 2⁄5 in the nine-furlong
Stars & Stripes Handicap. Through
her fifth dam, Transparent (GB),
Brave Raj was a distant relative to the legendary English
champion and stallion Hyperion (GB).
GETTING STARTED
Brave Raj made her racing debut a dominant one, on
May 22, 1986, at Garden State Park inNew Jersey. Facing
six rivals in a five-furlong Maiden Special Weight, she
rompedhomebymore thanseven lengths ina finishing time
28 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
“Dolly wanted to try her against colts. She was the best filly in the country andthat’s why I ran her. The owner of Snow Chief, Carl Grinstead, was a little upsetbecause if she had won, she would have passed him. I was a little disappointed
because I thought she would beat the boys.”—Mel Stute
Raj
BraveRaj.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:16 AM Page 28
of :59. Stute had seen the race and through his assistant,
GaryGregory, became aware that Brave Raj was for sale.
“I talked to Ben Jr., and he said he’d get a hold of his
dad, and that’s how the deal started,” Stute said. “Nice
filly to be around. Not big, not little. I’d say about the
right size, probably close to fifteen, three. I was im-
pressed by her. She was always impressive in workouts.”
Brave Raj headed out to California, making her next
start in a stakes, under new rider PatrickValenzuela, who
would pilot her in all but one remaining race. In Holly-
woodPark’s six-furlongLandaluce (G3), on July 4, Brave
Raj met eight other fillies, including the highly regarded
Bobby Frankel trained DelicateVine, and finished a dis-
tant fifth asDelicateVine camehome two lengths in front.
Making her way down to Del Mar for the six-furlong
JuniorMiss onAug. 6,BraveRaj had a compromised start
but managed to finish a solid second, three-quarters of a
length behindFooty, thewinner in receipt of three pounds,
with Evil Elaine, a head back of Brave Raj, in third.
STREAK
Twelve days later, Brave Raj went on a five-racewin-
ning streak, beginningwithDelMar’s seven-furlong Sor-
rento Stakes (G3).Among a field of 10, she broke fifth,
gradually advanced, before eventuallymoving ahead and
hitting the wire 1 1⁄4 lengths in front of Breech at equal
weights of 117. She then proceeded to annex the one-
mile Del Mar Debutante (G2) onAug. 31.
Racing secretary Kenny Noe asked Stute to bring
Brave Raj back to Florida, and three weeks later she was
entered in the seven-furlong restricted Susan’s Girl at
Calder Race Course.The surface conditions were sloppy
but Brave Raj crossed the finish with a 4½-length win-
ning margin. On Oct. 12, as part of a 13-horse field, she
made her first attempt at a route race inCalder’s restricted
11⁄16-mile My Dear Girl, and held offAdded Elegance by
less than a length to post her fourth straight victory.
Brave Raj returned to theWest Coast, and showcased
her talent with the biggest performance of her young ca-
reer on the biggest stage in NorthAmerica.
“All that time I wasn’t figuring she was a Breeders’
Cup horse because of the distance and her pedigree was-
n’t that great,” Stute said.
Noe however encouraged the trainer to enter her, so
she was put on a plane back to California, and her date
with destiny.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 29
Brave Raj winning the1986 Florida StallionStakes, the My Dear
Girl Division, overAdded Elegance.
JEAN
RAFT
ERYPH
OTO
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LEADER
The 1986 Breeders’ Cup Championships were held at
Santa Anita Park on Nov. 1, and Brave Raj was the third
choice in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1), contested at 11⁄16 miles.
The early favorite had been a filly who would eventu-
ally make history of her own; but at the time, Personal En-
sign had sustained a pastern fracture in aworkout andwould
not race again until the following September. Favoritism fell
to theD.WayneLukas trained Sacahuista, coming off a solid
win in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1).
DelicateVine, previously undefeated, had finished third
in the Oak Leaf, and suffered a career-ending injury. Tap-
piano was the second
choice. Another entry in
the field was Ruling
Angel, Canada’s eventual
1986 Sovereign Horse of theYear.
Among a field of 12, Brave Raj would break from post
four underValenzuela.When theywere sent away,Tappiano,
AnythingForLove, Sacahuista andRulingAngel vied for the
early lead with Brave Raj farther back in fifth. Entering the
clubhouse turn,Valenzuela settled Brave Raj comfortably in
fourth, asSacahuista droppedback,with aquarter run in :221⁄5.
Down the backstretch there wasn’t much change in the
order with the half covered in :45 3⁄5. Tappiano andAnything
For Lovewere still in frontwithRulingAngel also engaging.
Tappiano started to draw away, with RulingAngel in pursuit,
while Brave Raj advanced along the inside, cutting intoTap-
piano’s lead around the far turn, with six furlongs in 1:10 1⁄5.
As they headed into the stretch, Brave Raj ran Tappiano
down, quickly surged ahead along the rail, and built an in-
surmountable margin, hitting the wire clear by 5 ½ lengths.
Tappiano held second, followed by Saros Brig. Sacahuista,
with a strong late bid, finished fourth. Brave Raj’s final time
was 1:43 1⁄5, three-fifths of a second faster thanCapote’swin-
ning performance in the Breeders’Cup Juvenile (G1).
The victorywasmonumental for the Florida-bred daugh-
ter of Rajab, who had collected $450,000 of the purse and
was now the all-time leading juvenile female earner with
$911,150.
Brave Raj would make onemore start for the year and at-
tempt tobecome the first two-year-old, of eithergender, to earn
one million dollars; but if she succeeded, she would do it in
open company. Brave Raj could reach the milestone by fin-
ishing at least third, but even if she fell short, could still be-
come the richest juvenile. Her stablemate, the three-year-old
California-bred colt and Preakness winner Snow Chief, cur-
rentlyheld that distinctionafter earning$935,740 in1985; and
Brave Raj would pass him by simply reporting home fourth.
As the favorite, and lone filly in the group, Brave Raj
would break frompost eight, against 11males inHollywood
Park’s one-mile Hollywood Futurity (G1) on Dec. 14. The
purse was $1 million with nearly half that amount going to
the winner. When the dust cleared, three horses were at the
wire withTemperate Sil, under 55-year-old Bill Shoemaker,
ahead of future superstar Alysheba by a neck, with Master-
fulAdvocate another neck behind him. Finishing 31⁄4 lengths
30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
BraveRaj
FILE
PHOT
O
Brave Rajwinning the DelMar Debutante
“She was a pretty smart mare and she was pretty tough too. She wasn’tmean and she wasn’t hard to work with but she could get a little fired up
sometimes. She was a great mother, raising babies.”—Barry Ezrine
BraveRaj.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:16 AM Page 30
back in fifthwasBraveRaj, an effort that earnedher $22,500.
“Dolly wanted to try her against colts,” Stute said. “She
was the best filly in the country and that’s why I ran her.”Al-
though Brave Raj had not reached the $1 million milestone
nor caughtSnowChief, Stute’s filly had enjoyed a remarkable
year, posting six wins and a second from nine starts, and
record divisional earnings of $933,650. Among the year’s
money earners, shewas 10th on the list, with eventualHorse
of theYear Lady’s Secret and SnowChief the top two.
“The owner of Snow Chief, Carl Grinstead, was a little
upset because if she had won, she would have passed him,”
Stute remarked. “Iwas a little disappointed because I thought
she would beat the boys.”
CHAMPION
BraveRaj’s campaignmerited anEclipse award for 1986,
which she received as champion two-year-old female. Snow
Chief received theEclipse as champion three-year-oldmale.
Due to physical problems following her campaign, Brave
Raj did not race beyond her stellar juvenile year.
“She was very good,” Stute remembered. “She was too
good a filly to take a chance.”
AFTERMATH
In retirement, the broodmare Brave Raj resided at
Warren Rosenthal’s PatchenWilkes Farm in Lexington,
Ky., and produced 10 winners out of 13 named foals,
including stakes winner Bravo Bull, by Horse of the
Year Holy Bull. Brave Raj was also bred to England’s
last Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky II, and from that
cover produced the filly Russian Tango, herself a stakes
winner and future dam of Grade 2 winner Eurosilver.
Another daughter, El Rabab, by Irish/English champion
Roberto, produced Canadian grade two winner Muntej
(GB).
Barry Ezrine, FarmManager at PatchenWilkes, shared
his recollections about Brave Raj.
“She was a pretty smart mare and she was pretty tough
too. She wasn’t mean and she wasn’t hard to work with but
she could get a little fired up sometimes. She was a great
mother, raising babies.”
Having survived colic surgeries, Brave Raj died on Jan.
28, 2006, at age 22, one week after aborting a filly by
Gulch. The cause of her demise was believed to be a bro-
ken blood vessel. In her honor, the one-mile, seventy yard
Brave Raj Stakes for two-year-old fillies, is run in Sep-
tember at Calder. Brave Raj added a lovely touch of class
to the sport ofThoroughbred racing, enriched its great her-
itage, established her legacy, and secured a lasting place in
the hearts of racegoers, particularly in Florida and Cali-
fornia. For as long as horses take to the track, Brave Raj’s
memory fondly endures. �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 31
FOUR
FOOT
EDPH
OTO
Trainer Mel Stuteoutside his barn atSanta Anita withBrave Raj (right)and Snow Chief.
BraveRaj.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 12:35 PM Page 31
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GetOnBoard.qxd:Layout 1 8/10/11 9:41 AM Page 1
No tax on stallion seasons.No personal state income tax.
No individual capital gains tax.National leader in veterinary and equine research.
Ranked third in the U.S. for number of horses and size of horse industry.Feed and animal health items, along with other specific items, are also exempt.
Horses are exempt from sales tax when purchased from their original breeder.Florida’s greenbelt exemption provides property tax breaks for Florida horse farms.
Physical climate allows for year-round training, racing, showing and business opportunities.
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICESAdam Putnam, Commissioner 850-921-7916 • Fax 850-922-0374
e-mail:[email protected] S. Calhoun • 427-A Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 • 352-629-2160Fax: 352-629-3603 • www.ftboa.com • [email protected]
From coast to coast,Florida’s tax-friendly, pro-business
environment is poised and ready toattract new companies and create
new employment opportunities.
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34 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
By JOANN GUIDRY
The Nassal Company, founded
in 1984 by Bill and Cindy
Nassal, fabricates and in-
stalls themed environments for enter-
tainment, zoo, aquarium, leisure and
sports venues. The company’s client
list includes Walt Disney World,
Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe
and Universal’s Wizarding World of
Harry Potter. The Nassal Company’s
master artists and craftsmen perform
their own brand of magic, bringing to
life what imagination creates. Think
the Hogwarts School castle, the
Georgia Aquarium and Legoland.
But on Sept. 5, the Nassals experi-
enced a different kind of magic. Call it the
Thoroughbred kind when Currency Swap,
who the Nassals bred in the name of their
Ocala-based Stonecliff Farm, won the
Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Cur-
rency Swap became the first stakes winner
bred by the Nassals, who established
Stonecliff Farm in 2000.
“We’re a small operation,” said Cindy
Nassal. “We have only three broodmares
and to produce a horse like Currency
Swap is very exciting for us.”
So exciting that the Nassals were at
Saratoga days prior to the Hopeful Stakes.
Bill and Cindy Nassal, owners ofStonecliff Farm in Ocala, are enjoying the
success of Florida-bred Currency Swap
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 35
We’re a small
operation.We have
only three broodmares
and to produce a
horse like Currency
Swap is very exciting
for us.—Cindy Nassal
NYRA
PHOT
O“
”
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They visited Currency Swap, who they still refer to by
his farm name of Cotton, on the backside. They joined
owners Seth Klarman and William Lawrence, as well
as trainer Teresa Pompay, in the saddling ring. Minutes
later, they would all be in the winner’s circle.
“When he took the lead, I started yelling ‘Run, Cotton,
Run,’ kind of like ‘Run, Forrest, Run,’and I didn’t stop
until he crossed the finish line,” saidCindy. “It was a very
big day for us.Wewere just beamingwhenwewent down
to the winner’s circle for the picture with everyone else.”
It was only the second career start for Currency Swap,
a 2-year-old colt by Ocala Stud stallion High Cotton out
of the Pine Bluff mare Echo Bluff. He broke his maiden
by six lengths onAug. 6 at Saratoga.Amonth later, Cur-
rency Swapwon theHopeful Stakes by three-quarters of
a length over Trinniberg. He clocked 1:26.16 for the
seven furlongs over a sloppy track. Racing for the previ-
ously noted Klarman’s Klaravich Stables Inc. and
Lawrence, Currency Swap has to date banked $180,000.
The Nassals purchased the unraced Echo Bluff, the
dam of Currency Swap, for $4,500 at the 2002 Ocala
Breeders’ Sales Company’s January mixed sale. Con-
signed by Janie Roper, agent, EchoBluff is out of graded
stakes winner and stakes producerYou’renotlistening, by
Kennedy Road. Echo Bluff is a full sister to stakes win-
ner Your Bluffing; she is also a half-sister to graded
stakes-placed Nacho Friend and stakes-placedYachats.
“When we bought Echo Bluff, she was an unraced
three year old,” said Cindy. “I liked everything about her.
Shewas fromagood family andwas a nice, big,well-mus-
cled filly. I thought she’d be a good broodmare and pro-
duce nice, big babies.And that’s exactlywhat’s she’s done.”
In fact, Currency Swap was so nice that the Nas-
sals had originally intended to keep the foal they
dubbed Cotton.
“I have to give credit to bloodstock advisor Wiley
Perkins, who recommendedwe breedEchoBluff toHigh
36 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
SuccessfulSwap
NYRA
PHOT
O
Nassals_CurrencySwap.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/5/11 2:11 PM Page 36
Cotton,” saidCindy. “He thought it would be a great cross
and hewas right. Cottonwas an exceptional foal from the
start and we thought we’d keep him to race ourselves.”
But plans changed when OBS inspectors came to
check out a Stonecliff Farm client’s horse for the up-
coming October sale.
“The OBS guys saw Cotton and asked about him,”
recalled Cindy. “When I told them he wasn’t going to
be sold, they just went on and on about what a nice
colt he was. So we changed our minds and decided to
put him in the sale.”
Consigned by Summerfield, agent for Stonecliff
Farm, the Nassals’ Cotton sold for $42,000 to Break-
water Farm at the 2009 OBS October mixed sale. Then
at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale,
the colt was consigned by Nick de Meric, agent, and
sold for $70,000 to Four Star Stable, agent. After he
was a $92,000 RNA at the 2011 OBS March juvenile
sale, the colt was kept to race by his current owners.
“Selling Cotton turned out for the best,” said Cindy.
“He’s with good people and doing well. As a horse
person, you can’t ask for more than that.”
Cindy Nassal admits she was “one of those horse-
crazy kids always begging my parents for a pony.” She
finally got her wish when she was nine.
“My first horse was a glorified plow horse,” said
Cindy, who grew up in Madison, West Virginia. “But
I thought he was beautiful. I rode him all around town
and in every town parade.”
Another childhood memory for Cindy involved
Florida, where her mother had family in Crystal River
and the Ocala area.
“Every time we drove through Ocala, my mother
would tellme that thiswaswhereNeedleswas from,” said
Cindy. “And I just thought
that was great and the
Thoroughbred farmswere
all so beautiful.”
In 1974, Cindymoved
to Orlando because she
“When we bought Echo Bluff, shewas an unraced three year old. Iliked everything about her. She wasfrom a good family and was a nice,big, well-muscled filly. I thoughtshe’d be a good broodmare andproduce nice, big babies. And
that’s exactly what’s she’s done.”—Cindy Nassal
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 37
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“was young, the Florida skies were blue and there was
no winter.”While working for a national builder based
in Orlando, Cindy met future husband Bill Nassal,w
ho was also involved in the construction business.
After they married in 1984, the Nassals bought a small
farm in Seminole County and soon Cindy got a horse.
“I thought it would be nice to have a horse again and I
ended up getting an ex-racehorse,” saidCindy. “Her name
was Spectacular Splash and I competed in hunter/jumper
showswith her. Shewas very fast andwehad a lot of fun.”
It wasn’t long after that the Nassals became in-
volved in pinhooking Thoroughbreds for a couple of
years, buying weanlings and reselling them as year-
lings at OBS. But soon between the responsibilities of
a family and establishing The Nassal Company, there
was less time for the horses.When the Nassals sold the
Seminole County farm, they stopped pinhooking and
Cindy gave Spectacular Splash to a friend in Virginia.
“But years later after we were doing well and bought
a second home in Vermont,” explained Cindy, “Bill
tracked down Spectacular Splash and bought her back
for me. I kept her at a stable not far from our Vermont
home. I had her until she died at 28 and that’s when I de-
cided I never wanted to be without a horse again.”
At the 1998 OBSApril juvenile sale, Cindy bought
a Blue Ensign out of Peaceful Meadow, by Mead-
owlake, colt for $6,500. The colt was bought with the
intention of being a riding horse.
“He was a big beautiful gray colt,” said Cindy.
“When aThoroughbred trainer friend of ours looked at
him, he told us we should think about racing him. We
thought that might be fun and decided to give it a try.”
Named Savoy, the Blue Ensign colt did well for the
Nassals. Racing for three years, he earned $74,600 on
fivewins, one second and one third in 21 starts. Hemade
all but one of those starts for the Nassals. OnAugust 6,
2000, Savoy won and was claimed off the Nassals for
$10,000 at Calder. A week later, Savoy won again at
Calder and the Nassals claimed him back for $14,000.
“I get very attached to my horses and I really liked
Savoy,” said Cindy. “He had been very good to us and
I wanted to make sure that he always had a good home.
He was retired after that last win and we brought him
home to our farm in Ocala. He’s still here.”
Nestled between Live Oak Stud and Double Dia-
mond Farm, the 104-acre Stonecliff Farm was previ-
ously Golden Orb Farm. The Nassals named the farm
for the large limerock pit on the property, which they
fenced off, sodded, and where every March, they host
a popular croquet tournament.
“The farm is just a beautiful piece of land andwe have
great neighbors in Live Oak andDouble Diamond,” said
Cindy. “We sold our house inWinter Park and moved to
the farm. Bill commutes four days a week to the com-
pany headquarters in Orlando.We love living in Ocala.”
Determined to always have a horse, Cindy admits
that “it was accumulation of horses that led to buying
the farm.” Currently the farm’s equine population
numbers 13, spread out among three active brood-
mares, their offspring, and a field full of retirees, in-
cluding the aforementioned Savoy.
The three active broodmares are Currency Swap’s
dam, Echo Bluff, Rucielo and Keepondealing. Echo
Bluff had a 2010 full sister to Currency Swap; named
Dirt Candy, the filly was sold privately by the Nassals
shortly after Currency Swap broke his maiden. Echo
Bluff was barren in 2011 and is not in foal for 2012.
Rucielo, a 1997 mare by Rubiano out of the Con-
quistador Cielo mare Stella Cielo, was bought by the
Nassals for $60,000 at the 1999 OBS February juve-
nile sale. She made but two starts, posting a win and
a second, before being injured and retired. To date, she
is the dam of four winners, including stakes-placed
Car Thief. A 2005 Cat Thief gelding, Car Thief was
third in the 2011 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Hand-
icap. Sold by the Nassals through Nick de Meric,
agent, for $28,000 at the 2007 OBS April juvenile
sale, Car Thief has to date earned $167,960.
The Nassals still own Rucielo’s 2008 Closing Ar-
gument filly, named Appealing Stella; they privately
sold her 2009 Alphabet Soup filly, named Littlemis-
sattitude. Rucielo has a 2011 Congrats colt on the
farm. Rucielo is not in foal for 2012.
Completing the trio of Stonecliff Farm broodmares is
stakes winner Keepondealing, a 1998 mare by Friendly
Lover out of Keep Dealing, by Explosive Bid. Durable
and consistent, Keepondealing made 45 lifetime starts,
recording 10 wins, 12 seconds and six thirds to bank
$299,515. She won the NewYear’s Eve Handicap and
38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
“Every time we drove through Ocala, my motherwould tell me that this was where Needles wasfrom. And I just thought that was great and theThoroughbred farms were all so beautiful.”—Cindy Nassal
SuccessfulSwap
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Wishing Well Stakes, as well as being stakes-placed
three times.The dam of four winners from four starters,
Keepondealing had a 2010 Put It Back filly and a 2011
D’wildcat colt. Keepondealing is not in foal for 2012.
“We like to keep our operation small, manageable
and enjoyable,” said Cindy, who with Bill has three
children and 10 grandchildren. “And to have Cotton,
a horse we bred, go from our pasture to become a
Grade 1 winner is more than we ever could’ve
dreamed about happening.” �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 39
Ocala Stud stallionHigh Cotton, sireof Currency SwapLO
UISE
REINAG
ELPH
OTO
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40 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Following are the “FTBOA Chase to the Championship ” Point Standings through September 28, 2011.
Year-end divisional champions will be determined using the “FTBOAChase to the Championship” point system, a ranking that awards points forsuccess in stakes races.
The “FTBOA Chase to the Championship” allocates points for stakes wins ingraded races,open-company stakes and Florida’s signature racing days,with thenumber of points awarded based upon the classification of the race. Internationalstakes race status is governed by the International Cataloguing Standards Com-mittee. The first three finishers in all Group/Graded and listed races appearing inPart I of the International Cataloguing Standards and International Statistics Bookprinted by The Jockey Club receive “black-type” designation.Ten point bonus tobe awarded to any 2-year-old colt or filly sweeping all three legs of the Florida Stal-lion Stakes in determining the Champion 2-year-old Florida-bred.
The Florida-bred with the most points in each division on December 31is deemed champion of that division. Horse of the Year, Broodmare of theYear and Breeder of the Year will be voted on by the FTBOA Board of Di-rectors and announced at the FTBOA’s annual awards dinner.
In the case of a year-end tie in points in any division, earnings will beused to decide the tiebreaker. — Points are assigned as follows:
� World Thoroughbred ChampionshipBreeders’ Cup Race:Win: 20 pointsPlace: 15 pointsShow: 10 points
� Grade 1 Stakes Race:Win: 15 pointsPlace: 10 pointsShow: 5 points
� Grade 2 Stakes Race:Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Grade 3 Stakes Race:Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Sunshine Millions(equivalent to a Grade 2 Stakes Race):Win: 5 pointsPlace: 3 pointsShow: 2 points
� Other Florida-bredSignature Race Days(equivalent to a Grade 3 Stakes Race):(The Florida Million, Florida Cup,Florida Stallion Stakes Series):Win: 3 pointsPlace: 2 pointsShow: 1 point
� Open-Company Stakes($50,000+Purse) Points for WIN ONLY:Win: 2 points
� Selection Criteria for Florida-bred champions
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Breeder Owner TrainerCurrency Swap (High Cotton) - 15 Stonecliff Farm Klaravich Stables Inc &William H Lawrence Teresa M PompayFort Loudon (Awesome of Course) - 6 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I GoldArgentine Tango (Black Mambo) - 4 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I Gold
Two-Year-Old FillyRedbud Road (Awesome of Course) - 7 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Jacks or Better Farm Inc Stanley I GoldQueen Drama (Burning Roma) - 5 Harold L Queen Harold L Queen David FawkesCandrea (Trippi) - 2 Ocala Stud Karl Watson, Michael Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob BaffertCitizen Advocate (Proud Citizen) - 2 Peter Vegso Racing Stable White Hall Lane Farm David A VivianConway Two Step (Spanish Steps) - 2 Cashel Stud Inc Alex Lieblong David FawkesEssence of Bubbles (Essence of Dubai) - 2 Susie Leonie Blommaerts Richard Ravin Larry Rivelli
Three-Year-Old Colt/GeldingBrilliant Speed (Dynaformer) - 23 Live Oak Stud Live Oak Plantation Thomas AlbertraniCoil (Point Given) - 21 Glen Hill Farm Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob BaffertToby’s Corner (Bellamy Road) - 18 Dianne D Cotter Dianne D Cotter H Graham Motion
Three-Year-Old FillyTurbulent Descent (Congrats) - 55 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 34 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy TarrantR Heat Lightning (Trippi) - 10 E Paul Robsham Stables LLC E Paul Robsham Stables LLC Todd A Pletcher
Older Male (Four-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding)Teaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoFlat Out (Flatter) - 25 Nikolaus Bock Preston Stables LLC Charles L DickeyJackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 19 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P Zito
Older Female (Four-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare)Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook) - 25 Thorobeam Farm IEAH Stables,Whizway Farm, Robert Teel and Pegasus Holding Group Stables Richard E DutrowMusical Romance (Concorde’s Tune) - 21 Ocala Stud Pinnacle Racing Stable &William A Kaplan W KaplanBay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Adena Springs Robert Smithen Brian A Lynch
Male Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, race distances one mile and less)Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) - 17 Jacks or Better Farm Inc Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei Nicholas P ZitoTrappe Shot (Tapit) - 17 Hobeau Farm Mill House Kiaran McLaughlinApriority (Grand Slam) - 16 Donald R Dizney Donald R Dizney David FawkesAikenite (Yes It’s True) - 15 Brylynn Farm Inc Dogwood Stable Todd A Pletcher
Female Sprint (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, race distances one mile and less)Turbulent Descent (Congrats) - 40 Ocala Stud Blinkers On Racing, Dave Aurelio, Robert Butler, Joleen Coons, Lapso, et al Mike PuypePomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy) - 34 Hardacre Farm LLC Hardacre Farm LLC Amy TarrantAmen Hallelujah (Montbrook) - 25 Thorobeam Farm IEAH Stables,Whizway Farm, Teel, Robert and Pegasus Holding Group Stables Richard E Dutrow
Male Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Colt/Gelding, races run on the turf)Teaks North (Northern Afleet) - 33 Brylynn Farm Inc Jules Boutelle Justin SallustoJeranimo (Congaree) - 17 Brylynn Farm Inc B JWright Michael PenderBim Bam (Deputy Wild Cat) - 12 J D Farms Chuck, Ella & Lou Hagaman Ron Moquett
Female Turf (Three-Year-Olds and up Filly/Mare, races run on the turf)Bay to Bay (Sligo Bay) - 13 Adena Springs Robert Smithen Brian A LynchRomacaca (Running Stag) - 9 Cashel Stud Inc Frank Carl Calabrese Nick CananiTrip for A.J. (Trippi) - 8 Peter Fuller Peter Fuller Milton WWolfson
ChaseToChampionship.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/5/11 2:13 PM Page 16
�Call today for your contract.352.732.8858
Time to Act!
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1 10/5/11 2:15 PM Page 1
Horse Fever’s 10th anniversary herd of 27 horses trotted intoplace all around Ocala last month. Members of the press got a sneakpeek of the horses early in the month prior to their official unveiling
Sept. 29. Included in the early preview was theFlorida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Asso-ciation’s World Champ, painted by Sharon Crute.
The collection of life-sized, fancifully painted horses,presented by Marion Cultural Alliance and sponsored bythe FTBOA, will be on display until March of 2012.
They will be auctioned off March23, 2012 at Live Oak Plantation.
Sneak Peek
42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
BOTT
OMLE
FT:T
AMM
YPOR
TRAI
TART
.COM
/ALL
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OTOS
BYJA
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HorseFever2.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 12:37 PM Page 22
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 43
Each day and each season at the Florida Agricul-
ture Center and Horse Park, we welcome new
opportunities and challenges. That strong spirit
continues, thanks to a dedicated board of directors and
staff, fantastic volunteers, benevolent donors, and a
newly formed foundation. Our team’s focus is solid and
ever-sharpening.
The Park has long been recognized as a major equine
attraction – well-known for horse shows, horse trials and
trails, distance riding competitions, camping and various
equestrian-related events. Our unique connection to the
famous Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
gives us a special signature difficult to find anywhere
else in the U.S.
What many don’t realize is that the Florida Agricul-
ture Center and Horse Park is also a top year-round des-
tination that, in addition to horses, hosts everything from
food festivals and competitive BBQs to RV shows, dog
races, foot races and farmers’markets.
We’ve stepped up our marketing this month to better
share that message with all Floridians and visitors.
In keepingwith the original intent and long-termmis-
sion of the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park,
we are pleased to have recently introduced updated
branding (seen above). This enhanced image more fully
represents the Park’s legal description, approved by
Florida statute in 1996. Soon, thanks to the generosity of
LAMARAdvertising Co., you’ll see multiple billboards
on I-75 delivering this Florida Agriculture Center and
Horse Park info to tens of thousands of people traveling
through the heart of Florida every day.
FALL FUN STUFF
As always, a slew of activity is taking place at the Park
this October andNovember, including dog lure coursing,
dressage shows, horse trials and endurance rides.
One of the Park fundraisers, the second-annual Fall
Farm Tour sponsored by Great American Insurance
Group, is sold out. For this unique event, 300 ticket hold-
ers will meet at the Park on Oct. 27 and travel to three
prominentMarion County facilities: Plumley Farms,The
Sanctuary, and Lynn Palm’s Fox Grove Farm. Special
guests include the wonderful mini equines with Gentle
Carousel Therapy Horses of Alachua County, Fla. We
owe great thanks to each farm, sponsor and volunteer
who is working to make this fundraiser a success…al-
lowing us to share agriculture and horses withmanywho
are unfamiliar with the industry.
Plus, on Friday, Nov. 18, our outreach extends to local
and state elected officials as we present our inaugural
Legislative Trail Ride at the Park. We are excited to host
our decision-makers in government and introduce them to
the vast green space and trails, competition and outdoor
adventure that make the 500-acre Florida Agriculture
Center and Horse Park a state jewel. Cactus Jack Trail
Rides will be providing bombproof horses for attendees
to ride, as well as wagon rides for others, and RFD-TV
personalityTreyYoung, “America’s Horseman,” of Craw-
fordville, Fla., will give riding tips and rope trick demos.
The ride will be followed by a BBQ and live band, and
photo opportunities, as we break ground for the first
plantings of our Memorial Tree program.
Step by step, day by day, we are fulfilling our motto
of “Making the Land a Hero.”
Would you like to get involved? Come see us, drop
us a line, invite us to speak at your club or organization,
make a tax-deductible donation, purchase a Memorial
Tree to be planted at the Park…or sign up as a volunteer!
Findmore atwww.flhorsepark.com,or connectwithour
sites on Facebook for frequent up-
dates: Florida Horse Park and Foun-
dation for the Florida Horse Park.
Happy Trails,
What many don’trealize is that theFlorida Agricul-ture Center andHorse Park is alsoa top year-rounddestination that, inaddition to horses,hosts everythingfrom food festivalsand competitiveBBQs to RVshows, dog races,foot races andfarmers’markets.
YourHorses, Hikers, Bikers...and More
Connie DuffWise / Chairman of the Board
FloridaAgricultural Center and Horse Park
FLORIDA HORSE PARK
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By DIANA DE ROSA
Most teenage girls are enjoying play dates,
texting their friends, and planning ahead
for the weekend, but 13-year-old Victoria
Colvin, Loxahatchee, FL, spends most of her time rid-
ing and/or competing on at least 10 horses a day.
Victoria’s very first experience ridingalmost endedher
career right then and there. “I was three and the pony ran
offwithme. Iwas so scared I didn’t ride again until Iwas
five.” Since then the young teenager hasn’t looked back.
Victoria’s parents, Brigid and Jim, are 100 percent
behind Victoria’s love of horses because they share
her passion.
“They support me a lot,” saidVictoria as we chatted
after she’d just finished competing in one of her many
classes of the day. “My dad is a farrier and my mom
takes care of our ‘house’ barn.”
One of Victoria’s favorite places to compete is the
Washington International Horse Show, which this year
takes place Oct. 25-30. She likes the change of pace
since most of the shows she competes in have multiple
rings going at once and are outdoors. Not so at Wash-
ington, where the classes are showcased in Verizon
Center, with only one class going at a time.
“The first year I showed there was in 2007 and I
was reserve champion on a large pony named Sunday
Best. I was only nine years old and it was truly amaz-
ing. It’s an honor to make it to any indoors but Wash-
ington has a special feel. It is downtown and gives me
that tingly feeling. It makes all the classes I compete
in there special to me,” she said.
If last year’s victories are indicative of how she’s
done atWashington, it’s no wonder she loves that show.
In 2010 she was grand champion in the medium
ponies on Ever Luvin’owned by Scott Stewart; cham-
pion in the large ponies on ForThe Laugher owned by
Dr. Betsee Parker and Best Child Rider on a Pony.
In fact, when asked what her greatest achievement
has been so far at WIHS, it was these last honors that
she is most proud of.
44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Floridian Colvin is Just Thirteen andHeaded to the Washington International
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ADE
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“Being name Best Child Rider on a Pony
and also being champion in both divisions
meant a lot tome,” saidVictoria,whose charm-
ing smile andwide grinmade it clear thatwin-
ning is the icing on the cake for this youngster
who is just at the beginning of her career.
Yet it’s not just the riding she enjoys at
Washington. “I love Puissance night and
being able to walk up to the puissance wall.
It is huge.”
This year she’ll be back and already has a
plan: “I am hoping to improve from last year.
I am riding Ovation and Vip Z owned by
Scott, Sanzibar owned by Karen Long
Dwight and Barbara Ridder Irwin.
This talented teenager is the go-to rider
for many owners and gets to ride some won-
derful horses. “In the large juniors I have a
choice between Havanna owned by Karen
and Barbara, Inclusive owned by Scott,
Touchdown owned by Becky Gochman or
Way Cool owned by Dr. Parker.
Victoria knows that to be successful it takes
a team effort and she credits much of her suc-
cess to her trainers, Stewart and Ken Berkley.
“They are great people and amazing train-
ers. They giveme somuch.They have taught
me to trust my feel,” she said. “Every day I
am grateful for everything my parents and
Scott and Ken do for me.”
This year has also brought new victories
toVictoria’s trophy chest. During the winter,
she won one of the grand prix at the Winter
Equestrian Festival inWellington, FL. More
recently, she won the $50,000 Jumping
Derby at the Hampton Classic, truly a huge
honor for a girl her age.
While size-wise she is still able to com-
pete in the ponies, what appeals to her most
these days is equitation and show jumping.
“I want to do well on my jumper and I
would love to do well in the equitation,” she
said. In fact,Victoria is leading theEast Coast
standings for the WIHS Equitation Finals so
you can be sure she’ll be doing her best to con-
tinue to be at the top of the pack of this three-
phase competition at Verizon Center (hunter,
jumper and then
the top ten meet
in the Finals).
Victoria gets home schooled “because it
workswithmyschedule,” sheexplained. And if
you think that schedule is only about riding,
you’d be wrong. “I love tennis. I miss it and
when I’m not riding that’s all I want to do.”
When askedwhat it is about the horses that
fascinates her and gives her the desire to focus
somuch of her time and energy on her riding,
Victoria’s responsewas short and to the point.
“I love it. I love riding.”
And for a final comment about theWash-
ington International and why it is so special
to her she added, “For people who haven’t
been toWashington, you must go. The peo-
ple are friendly. The ambiance is amazing.
The hours are hard but fun. When else can a
thirteen-year-old wake up at two in themorn-
ing to ride. It’s fun!”�
46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
“I love it. I love riding.”—Victoria Colvin
Young Competitor
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48 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Governor Rick Scott proclaimed the
month of October as Florida Greenways and
TrailsMonth, celebrating the important recre-
ational and economic benefits of Florida’s
greenways and trails.The FloridaDepartment
of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida
Park Service, Office of Greenways & Trails
welcomes this annual occasion to recognize
communities throughout the state as they host
events on the more than 600 miles of beauti-
ful greenways and trails in Florida.
“Greenways and Trails Month offers
Floridians and visitors the opportunity to
come together and celebrate thewealth of nat-
ural resources available to them throughout
the state,” said Florida Park Service Director
Donald Forgione. “This is the perfect time of
year to take a long stroll on your favorite trail
or dust off your bike and find some great new
riding spots along Florida’s state trails.”
To commemorate FloridaGreenways and
Trails Month, DEP held a special reopening
ceremony on Oct. 6 at the Tallahassee-St.
Marks Historic Railroad State Trail. The
event took place at the north trailhead in
Woodville to celebrate the newly resurfaced
and widened 16-mile multi-use trail. After
more than 20 years of service, Florida’s first
paved rail-trail has been widened to 12 feet,
to meet current state and national standards.
“Florida is home to a wide variety of na-
ture-based recreational opportunities,” said
Kent Wimmer, Chair of the Florida Green-
ways andTrails Council. “October is a great
time of year to take advantage of the cooler
temperatures and explore the state’s many
beautiful trails, parks and forests.”
Events throughout the state will highlight
the value of Florida’s greenways and trails as
an affordable, accessible source of recreation
and effective boost to Florida’s tourism. Dur-
ing FiscalYear 2010-2011, theMarjorie Har-
ris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and state
trailsmanaged by theOffice ofGreenways&
Trailswelcomedmore than 4million visitors,
generating an estimated $94 million in eco-
nomic impact. A recent study conducted by
the East Central Florida Regional Planning
Council concluded that three trails in Orange
County supported 516 jobs and an estimated
economic impact of $42.6 million in 2010.
Developed in response to increased de-
mand for trails by Florida visitors, VISIT
FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism mar-
keting corporation, created a website that
provides a range of travel-related informa-
tion for more than 100 trails throughout
Florida.Those ready to hike, bike, paddle or
horseback ride on the state’s unique system
of trails and greenways can visit www.VIS-
ITFLORIDA.com/trails. �
NEWS BITS
LOUI
SERE
INAG
ELPH
OTO
October is FloridaGreenways and Trails Month
McKathan Trail
NEWSBits_Oct.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/5/11 3:50 PM Page 3
By JAMIE COHEN, Farm Outreach Coordinator
Aswe move through the season, the yearling
sales are now complete and training is under-
way for our young horses, so it’s a good time
to take a look around your farm and see where you can
save yourself some money, which will, in turn, reduce
your carbon footprint, preserve water and benefit us all.
Everyone knows that it is very costly to run and
maintain a farm, and the cost of everything just keeps
rising, but there are ways to make significant impacts
with your savings, which will also have the added ben-
efit of impacting our world for the long-term.
New technologies are available today that can help you
to use less electricity on the farm. Small things, like
changing your light bulbs from the old, incandescent or
fluorescent bulbs, to the newer LED lighting, can have
big impacts on your electric costs (NewLED lighting also
shares an added benefit of not attracting pesky insects).
Washing blankets, wraps, saddle towels and other
items is a non-stop cycle in barns that can wreak havoc
with your electric bill. Newer, “Energy Star” elec-
tronic equipment is set-up specifically to use as little
energy and water as possible, which is great when your
washing machine and dryer run 24/7 on the farm. Try
to think of how many hours a day your lights are on in
the barn and how often your washer and dryer runs;
then think how having superior, highly efficient
equipment can both streamline your operation and put
a dent in already enormous bills by saving on your
electric and water use.
Water usage is another aspect on farms to consider.
Running the water heater continuously for bathing and
washer needs can be very costly. Simply having all pad-
docks use automatic water troughs, which runs a pump
continuously (and uses electricity) creates more ex-
pense. Solar electric, an often overlooked, but highly
successful Florida option, can help reduce the cost of
running water pumps, as well as provide additional
electricity for your barn. Solar water heaters are signif-
icantly more efficient than the standard storage tanks.
To get more ideas about how to better and more ef-
ficiently use your electricity, fellow agent, John Lin-
hoss, will be running a program in Ocala, Florida, on
Thursday, Nov. 10th from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm titled,
”Farm Energy Options: New Ways to Power your
Farm.” This program is designed to specifically give
you answers to questions about different energy effi-
ciency ideas, renewable and alternative energy applica-
tions and how to help finance these upgrades. Register
online at: http://farmenergyoptions.eventbrite.com or
call 352-671-8400. The cost is only $10.
In times of limited spending, finding ways to save
money can help those already tight purse strings take a
breather. Upgrading appliances, putting in solar panels
and other things, such as adding insulation, may seem
costly and impossible, but consider them investments.
All improvements made will end up saving you money,
leaving you with more in your pocket each month. So,
efficiency improvements pay for themselves.
I hope these suggestions give you some ideas about
how to save money and “go green.” As we all know,
improving the bottom line also helps preserve and pro-
tect our beautiful state and beyond. Remember, the
more careful we all are, the more years we will have for
our “day at the races.”
Keep up the goodmanagement practices.
FARM MANAGEMENT
ReduceYour Carbon Footprint:FarmEnergyOptions andMore
Farm Energy Options
Schedule a Farm Call:
Jamie A. CohenFarm Outreach CoordinatorUF IFAS/Marion County Extension Service352-671-8792 • [email protected]
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 49
Cohen_FarmManagement_USE.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 11:22 AM Page 1
50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN)
introduced the American Horse Slaugh-
ter Prevention Act (H.R.2966) in Sep-
tember. The bill would prohibit the
slaughter of horses for human consump-
tion. A Senate version of this bill S.1176
was introduced in June by Senator Mary
Landrieu (D-LA). The House and Senate
bills are identical.
This bill would amend the Horse Pro-
tection Act (HPA), which was enacted in
1970 to prohibit the showing, transport
or sale of horses that have been subjected
to any painful process to accentuate their
gait. The Animal & Plant Inspection
Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture enforces the HPA.
The bill would prohibit the shipping,
transporting, or sale of horses for
slaughter for human consumption. Such
activities would be a violation of the
HPA and subject any person who know-
ingly violates the Act to penalties of up
to $3,000 and/or one year in jail for the
first offense and up to
$5,000 and/or two years in
jail for a second offense. An
offender may also be subject
to civil penalties of $2,000
for each violation.
The bill authorizes $5
million for enforcement.
The bill has been re-
ferred to the House Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce and has 56
co-sponsors.
� The American Horse Council also
announced last month that Douglas
Dean, CPA of Dean Dorton Allen Ford
PLLC in Kentucky as the newest con-
tributor to its bi-monthly Tax Bulletin.
The Tax Bulletin is AHC’s most pop-
ular publication, featuring timely articles
on equine tax and business issues. It pro-
vides updates on the latest tax court de-
cisions, IRS regulations, and legislation
that might impact one’s ability to run a
profitable business.
Dean joined AHC’s Tax Bulletin Ad-
visory Committee in June, adding to an
impressive editorial board of tax profes-
sionals. “We are very pleased that Doug
Dean agreed to join the tax team. He
brings years of experience and will make
the AHCTax Bulletin even more inform-
ative,” said AHC President Jay Hickey.
Dean has extensive experience in pro-
viding tax compliance and planning, es-
tate planning, and business valuation
service, and has represented clients in
dealing with federal, state, and local tax
authorities. Additionally, he was the ini-
tial leader of his firm’s Equine Industry
Team, a position in which he served for
many years.
“I’m very pleased and honored to join
AHC’s Tax Bulletin Advisory Commit-
tee. Owners and operators of horse busi-
nesses, involvingThoroughbreds and other
breeds, have been a big part
of our firm’s and my profes-
sional practice for many
years,” said Dean. “As a long-
time reader of the AHC’s tax
communications, I’m now
glad to participate in the com-
mittee’s part of providing this
service,” he added.
The AHC Tax Bulletin is available
through membership with the American
Horse Council. For more information on
how to become a member and receive the
horse industry’s most informative tax up-
dates visit http://www.horsecouncil.org/ahc-
memberships or contact Bridget Harrison at
(202) 296-4031 or [email protected].
Learn more about equine business tax
issues in the 2011 Horse Owners and
Breeders Tax Handbook by Thomas A.
Davis, Esq of Davis and Harman. This
two-volume edition has everything you
need to know pertaining to tax laws for
your equine business. Topics covered in
the Handbook include: business versus
hobby - including summaries of impor-
tant court decisions; Passive loss rules;
Forms of doing business; Record keep-
ing and accounting rules; Sales, Ex-
changes and Involuntary conversions;
Depreciation; and much more.
HORSE COUNCIL NEWS
American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Introduced
BECOMEA
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorsewww.ftboa.com
HorseCouncilNews.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 12:34 PM Page 54
(ex•cel•lence) nounthe fact or state of excelling;superiority; distinction;
possessing good qualities in high degree.
Get noticed
For the fifth consecutive year,
Publisher: Richard Hancock • Editor in chief: Michael ComptonBusiness manager: Patrick Vinzant • Art director: John FilerAdministrative assistant: Beverly Kalberkamp
The Florida Horse is the official publication of theFlorida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Associationwww.ftboa.com • www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
352.732.8858
AD bleed check.qx:Layout 1 10/5/11 2:23 PM Page 1
52 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Amanda M. House, DVM, DACVIM
VACCINATION
Routine vaccination is a critical com-
ponent of developing a health main-
tenance program for horses. It is
important to emphasize that there is no stan-
dard vaccination program that is suitable for
every horse, and that individual programs
should be developed with your veterinarian.
Vaccinations help to prime the immune
system to respond quickly when a horse is ex-
posed to an infectious agent. Although vacci-
nations cannot guarantee disease prevention
in all circumstances, they help minimize the
risk of infection and aid in the prevention of
certain diseases. Vaccination is not a substi-
tute for other goodmanagement practices, and
should be used in conjunction with proper nu-
trition, deworming, pasture management and
minimizing stress and overcrowding for opti-
mal results in each horse and herd. Ideally, all
horses in a group should receive vaccinations
and be on the same schedule when possible.
The vaccination program appropriate for an
individual horse or herd
needs to take into account
things such as age, sex, ge-
ographic location, use of
the horse, pregnancy status
and risk for developing the
disease. Currently, there
are vaccines available for
tetanus, encephalomyelitis,
West Nile virus, rabies,
rhinopneumonitis (equine
herpes virus), influenza,
strangles, Potomac horse
fever, botulism, equine
viral arteritis, anthrax, and rotavirus.
The vaccines are administered by an intra-
muscular or intranasal route depending on the
disease. Influenza and strangles have both in-
tramuscular and intranasal vaccines available.
Adverse reactions to vaccination are not
common but are a potential risk of vaccina-
tion. Signs of an adverse reactionmay include
muscle soreness, swelling, fever, anorexia, and
lethargy. If the signs are severe or are not self-
limiting, your veterinarian should be informed
and may want to initiate additional therapy.
When considering a vaccination program
for your horse, it is important to remember
that each horse’s immune systemwill respond
a little differently to vaccination. Not every
horse will be protected to the same degree or
for the same amount of time following vacci-
nation. A primary series of the vaccines with
booster doses will be required for an appro-
priate immune response before exposure to
the disease. It will take 1-2 weeks after a com-
pleted vaccine series for your horse to be pro-
tected against the disease. After the initial
vaccine series, most horses will require annual
or semi-annual booster vaccinations.
An overview of basic vaccination guide-
lines and the diseases follows. This is only a
guideline, and a specific plan for your horse
should be developed in conjunction with your
veterinarian.
Generally, vaccination is recommended for
all horses for tetanus, encephalomyelitis, ra-
bies, andWest Nile virus.
Rabies is an uncom-
mon occurrence, but is
fatal in all cases; there-
fore, vaccination is ad-
vised. Vaccination for
influenza and equine her-
pes virus (EHV) is rec-
ommended in most cases,
especially in performance
horses and horses ex-
posed to a transient or
young equine population.
Broodmares and wean-
lings have specific vacci-
nation recommendations tailored for their
needs, and will not be covered in detail here.
Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani, an
anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium.The bac-
teria are present in the intestine andmanure of
horses, as well as in the soil. Clostridium
tetani produces spores that can survive for
years in the environment.The spores can gain
access to the horse through wounds or lacera-
tions, or the umbilicus in foals. The clinical
signs of tetanus are a result of toxin produc-
tion, and includemuscle stiffness and rigidity,
third eyelid prolapse, stiff legs and “sawhorse”
stance, nostril flare, and lockjaw.
Horses with severe disease are unable to eat,
and may be down and unable to get up; many
progress to death or require euthanasia. All
horses should be revaccinated annually for
tetanus, and boostered immediately if they sus-
tain a wound or undergo surgery more than six
months after their previous vaccine.Tetanus an-
titoxin canbe administered to horses that sustain
a wound (increasing their risk of disease) and
that have not previously been vaccinated with
tetanus toxoid.
The equine encephalomyelitis viruses
(eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE),
western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), and
Venezuela equine encephalomyelitis (VEE))
are transmitted by mosquitoes to horses and
humans from wild birds or rodents (VEE).
Horses and humans are considered dead-
end hosts for the disease, and cannot pass it to
others. Infection with these viruses can cause
fever and neurological symptoms such as de-
pression, difficulty walking/staggering gait,
changes in behavior/mentation (profound de-
pression, abnormal mental responses), and
seizures. VEE is a reportable foreign animal
disease, and has not been seen in the U.S. for
many years.
The death rate is 70-90% for horses with
EEE or VEE, and about 50% for horses with
WEE.The mortality rate in cases with EEE is
generally higher that 90%. All horses should
be vaccinated for EEE/WEE in the spring,
prior tomosquito season. Horses in the south-
eastern states such as Florida should be vacci-
nated at least 2-3 times per year.
West Nile virus is another virus transmitted
by mosquitoes that can cause neurological
symptoms such as muscle tremors, loss of co-
ordination, hypersensitivity to being touched,
and recumbency (a horse with recumbency
cannot stand up). The death rate for infected
horses is about 33%. Multiple vaccines are
available for use, and horses should be vacci-
nated annually.
EquineCare
The vaccination program
appropriate for an indi-
vidual horse or herd
needs to take into account
things such as age, sex,
geographic location, use
of the horse, pregnancy
status and risk for devel-
oping the disease.
EquineCareVaccination.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/6/11 12:38 PM Page 52
Fortunately, rabies is an uncommon dis-
ease in the horse. However, in any areas where
rabies is endemic in the wildlife population,
horses can be exposed through a bite from an
infected animal. Rabies results in progressive
neurological disease and is
fatal in all cases. It can be
transmitted from infected
horses to humans.Vaccina-
tion is recommended fol-
lowed by a yearly booster.
Equine influenza is one
of the most common infec-
tious respiratory diseases in
the horse. The virus is
highly contagious and can
be transmitted through the
air from horse to horse as a
result of coughing. The
most common signs of in-
fection are fever, cough,
nasal discharge, and reduced appetite. Young
horses and horses exposed to large numbers
of other horses through showing or transport
seem to bemost susceptible to infection.Most
horses recover from infection in about 10-14
days, and treatment consists of supportive
care.
Vaccination is available in intramuscular
(killed virus, and canary pox vectored vac-
cine) and intranasal (modified live virus) for-
mulations.Vaccination is recommended every
six months, and is done more frequently
(every 3-4months) in some horse populations.
Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and
equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) can both
cause respiratory infections (rhinopneumoni-
tis) in horses, generally affecting the upper
respiratory tract and causing fever, nasal dis-
charge, and sometimes cough. However,
EHV-1 can also result in neurological disease,
abortion, and foal death. EHV-1 and EHV-4
are transmitted through the air or by direct
contact with secretions from the nose, on
equipment, or in drinking water.
It is likely that initial infection with EHV-
1 and EHV-4 first occurs in foals, but clini-
cally apparent infections are seen as they get
older and are exposed to new horses. Vacci-
nation is recommended for prevention of
abortion in pregnant mares (with a killed vac-
cine product licensed for prevention of abor-
tion) and for reduction in signs and spread of
respiratory disease in foals,
weanlings, yearlings,
young performance, and
show horses that have a
higher risk of exposure.
Vaccination does not pre-
vent the neurological form
of EHV-1.
Additionally, vaccines
for strangles (Streptococ-
cus equi infection) and Po-
tomac horse fever (PHF)
are available and their use
should be discussed with
your veterinarian. Potomac
horse fever is not typically
seen in Florida, but vaccination may be con-
sidered in horses that are traveling to the
northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. The vac-
cine for PHF is not completely protective, and
additional study on this vaccination and dis-
ease is warranted.
Vaccinations for botulism, rotavirus, and
equine viral arteritis are usedmore commonly
in breeding populations. TheAmericanAsso-
ciation of Equine Practitioners has recently
updated their guidelines for vaccination of the
horse, and is an excellent resource for owners
at www.aaep.org. That website has an excel-
lent chart available for download on vaccina-
tion of foals and adults.
PARASITE CONTROLEstablishing a deworming program for
equine parasites has become a somewhat con-
troversial topic of discussion. Due to the emer-
gence of resistant parasites (worms that are
not killed by traditional dewormers), some of
the emphasis is shifting to prevention and con-
trol, rather than just routine rotational treat-
ment with anthelmintics.
TheAmericanAssociation of Equine Prac-
titioners (AAEP) recommends establishing a
program with your veterinarian that works
best for your horse and/or herd, in conjunction
with these suggestions for environmental
management:
Clean and dispose ofmanure in the pasture
at least twice weekly.
Mow and harrow pastures regularly to
break up manure and expose parasite eggs to
the sun.
If possible, rotate pastures by allowing
other livestock to graze them.
Group horses in a pasture by age to reduce
exposure to certain parasites, and maximize
the deworming program geared to that group.
Prevent overgrazing and reduce fecal con-
tamination by keeping the number of horses
per acre to a minimum.
Feed horses in a feeder for hay and grain
rather than on the ground.
Remove bot eggs from the hair routinely to
prevent ingestion.
Equine tapeworms are difficult to identify
in fecal examinations, and deworming for
tapeworms is recommended biannually or an-
nually with a product containing praziquantel
(Zimectrin Gold®, Equimax®, Quest Plus®),
or double dose pyrantel pamoate or tartrate.
A blood test has been developed that iden-
tifies antibodies to tapeworms in horses. This
test is only available at one lab in the United
States at the University ofTennessee’s College
of Veterinary Medicine. However, there are
likely horses with tapeworms that this test will
not identify, and it is more practical to be sure
horses are dewormed annually to biannually
for tapeworms.
Consult your veterinarian for a deworming
strategy that works best for your horse and/or
herd. �
THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 53
Due to the emergence
of resistant parasites
(worms that are not
killed by traditional de-
wormers), some of the
emphasis is shifting to
prevention and control,
rather than just routine
rotational treatment
with anthelmintics.
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54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
FLORIDANEWS
By MICHAEL COMPTON
Florida-bred Awesome Feather made her long-awaited
seasonal debut on Oct. 5, defeating a compact field in the Le
Slew Stakes at Belmont Park.
Awesome Feather had not raced since she wrapped up an
undefeated juvenile season last year by taking down top prize
in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs
for trainer Stanley Gold in the colors of her breeder and owner
Jacks or Better Farm.
Following the Breeders’ Cup triumph, Awesome Feather
was sold to Frank Stronach for $2.3 million at Fasig-Tipton’s
November mixed sale. She had a delayed start to her cam-
paign this year because of a bowed tendon that required time
to heal. She won the Le Slew Stakes in Stronach’s colors and
was saddled by trainer Chad Brown.
“There was a lot of pressure today,” Brown said. “She had
been training very well. You can never have a horse coming
off this type of injury [at] a full fitness level. We brought her
in here a little short fitness-wise, but nice and sound and
healthy. We figured this was as close as we were going to get
and gave her a shot, and she ran really well.
“I was a little worried early because coming off this type
of layoff I didn’t want to crank the screws too much in the
morning and never get to this day,” he added. “So, I felt like
I probably had her 75 percent fit, but perfectly sound, and I
took that as enough to get her started. When I saw 22, 45 and
she’s only a length off it, for a horse off a layoff, that’s a de-
manding pace to chase and still have finish. I was a little wor-
ried down the backside but she dug in. She has the heart of a
champion. It might have not been a stellar group, but she got
the job done.”
In her Eclipse championship season racing for Fred and
Jane Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm, Awesome Feather was per-
fect in six starts. She swept the fillies division of the Florida
Stallion Stakes series at Calder before capturing the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies in November.
“I’m delighted to see her comeback like that,” said Fred
Brei. “I hope we see her go onward and upward from here.”
Awesome Feather is by Journeyman Stud stallion Awesome
of Course and is out of the Gone West mare Precious Feather.
Call: 352.732.8858
www.facebook.com/thefloridahorse
The Florida-bred Eclipse championturns back four others in Le Slew Stakesto remain undefeated.
Awesome Feather Victorious in Return
Florida-bred Awesome Feather
NYRA
PHOT
O
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THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011 55
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through October 5, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Sires
WILDCAT HEIRLEROIDESANIMAUX GRAEME HALL
NA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yoName Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Candy Stripes Stonewall Farm Ocala $3,647,727 80 39 5 7 4 $3,823,662 Animal Kingdom $1,904,900 16 39,823 3 $53,500
Wildcat Heir Forest Wildcat Journeyman Stud $3,630,245 163 85 8 11 2 $3,642,707 John Johny Jak $139,971 21 $27,524 16 $39,531
Graeme Hall Dehere Winding Oaks $2,742,620 116 70 3 3 3 $2,747,391 Duke of Mischief $719,881 10 $22,250 5 $17,600
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $2,134,815 186 82 1 1 0 $2,144,390 Dahlgren Chapel $93,120 15 $13,380 11 $19,836
Consolidator Storm Cat Journeyman Stud $1,817,859 156 73 0 0 0 $2,038,763 Consolidator Joe $115,874 20 $7,153 6 $11,917
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/DeRenzo $1,922,021 115 51 1 2 0 $1,945,740 Decisive Moment $333,700 20 $27,060 38 $26,250
Strong Hope Grand Slam Winding Oaks $1,837,696 114 55 2 3 0 $1,939,247 Clement Rock $190,494 3 $2,833 4 $16,750
Montbrook Buckaroo Ocala Stud $1,892,234 79 40 2 5 2 $1,904,525 Tackleberry $599,667 4 $16,500 12 $35,142
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery $1,788,567 71 36 6 10 2 $1,888,555 Pomeroys Pistol $401,188 12 $30,667 17 $78,235
Greatness Mr. Prospector Stonewall Farm Ocala $1,771,156 67 37 3 9 1 $1,771,156 Jenny's So Great $213,684 1 $1,000 1 $2,000
D'wildcat Forest Wildcat Vinery $1,558,593 103 48 1 1 0 $1,688,099 D'wild Ride $110,175 17 $18,100 24 $31,279
Concorde's Tune Concorde Bound deceased $1,595,003 72 36 1 4 1 $1,628,334 Musical Romance $460,734 7 $27,214
Halo's Image Halo deceased $1,605,231 74 39 5 5 1 $1,606,976 Atlantic Hurricane $212,698 4 $5,675 4 $12,250
Put It Back Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm $1,451,340 146 56 4 6 2 $1,585,585 It's Me Mom $97,300 26 $14,992 24 $27,000
Full Mandate A.P. Indy Hartley/DeRenzo $1,552,243 110 51 1 1 0 $1,555,950 Full of Gut $124,120 3 $1,400 5 $17,540
Value Plus Unbridled's Song Stonewall Farm Ocala $1,534,809 113 56 1 1 0 $1,536,884 All Due Respect $70,638 $14 9,593 4 $41,250
Roar of the Tiger Storm Cat deceased $1,370,729 106 48 3 4 0 $1,370,729 Tazz $127,370 6 $8,833 9 $14,667
Concerto Chief's Crown Ocala Stud $1,336,437 73 47 1 3 0 $1,337,101 Vuelve Ruben M . $146,987 4 $23,375
Suave A.P. Indy Vinery $1,095,090 90 40 1 1 0 $1,231,070 Indy Tune $76,866 14 $6,423 2 $6,500
Three Wonders Storm Cat deceased $1,198,509 100 52 1 2 0 $1,212,246 Trelawny $62,516
Black Mambo Kingmambo deceased $1,171,206 81 40 1 1 0 $1,186,176 Big Push $109,180 3 $5,000 3 $10,903
West Acre Forty Niner Stonehedge $1,157,463 45 27 4 4 1 $1,157,463 Watch Me Go $258,070 1 $2,500 5 $9,900
Burning Roma Rubiano Rising Hill $1,147,411 84 45 3 3 0 $1,148,945 Queen Drama $123,705 6 $6,833
Bwana Charlie Indian Charlie Journeyman Stud $1,082,241 58 28 0 0 0 $1,082,241 Comma to the Top $227,000 8 $3,500 15 $10,160
Indian Ocean Stormy Atlantic Bridlewood Farm $987,003 78 37 1 1 0 $987,003 Ocean Princess $115,844 8 $5,063 7 $12,286
LeadingSires_General.qxd:Florida Horse_template 10/5/11 12:21 PM Page 1
56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing resultsupdated through October 5, 2011. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
Leading Florida Juvenile Sires
AWESOME OF COURSEHIGH COTTON WITH DISTINCTION
NA Stk Gr Leading Leading Yrlg Yrlg 2yo 2yoName Sire Name Farm Name Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings Earner Earnings Sold Avg Sold Avg
High Cotton Dixie Union Ocala Stud $373,108 22 7 1 1 1 $390,571 Currency Swap $180,000 9 $26,222 23 $31,518
Awesome of Course Awesome Again Journeyman Stud $385,825 5 3 2 4 0 $385,825 Redbud Road $162,855 1 $10,000
With Distinction Storm Cat Hartley/De Renzo $315,006 38 11 0 0 0 $335,763 Angelofdistinction $40,535 20 $27,060 38 $26,250
Wildcat Heir Forest Wildcat Journeyman Stud $303,222 17 6 1 1 1 $303,222 Vexor $133,000 21 $27,524 16 $39,531
Saint Anddan A.P. Indy Journeyman Stud $297,400 26 9 1 1 0 $297,400 Saint D'aroak $78,388 3 $12,667 24 $18,396
Chapel Royal Montbrook Signature Stallions $296,636 30 11 1 1 0 $296,636 Navy Chapel $46,290 15 $13,380 11 $19,836
Burning Roma Rubiano Rising Hill $293,647 13 7 2 2 0 $293,647 Queen Drama $123,705 6 $6,833
Shakespeare Theatrical (IRE) Signature Stallions $240,627 9 5 1 1 1 $281,634 Shkspeare Shaliyah $96,700 3 $38,667 3 $78,667
Exclusive Quality Elusive Quality Journeyman Stud $248,545 22 6 1 1 0 $248,545 Exclusively Maria $98,258 13 $8,831 30 $21,550
D'wildcat Forest Wildcat Vinery $242,095 27 6 0 0 0 $242,095 Blue Forty $55,042 17 $18,100 24 $31,279
Put It Back Honour andGlory Bridlewood Farm $219,815 25 6 0 0 0 $219,815 Hot Ride $34,120 26 $14,992 24 $27,000
Consolidator Storm Cat Journeyman Stud $216,588 27 7 0 0 0 $216,588 Love Contract $43,200 20 $7,153 6 $11,917
Pomeroy Boundary Vinery $210,536 16 5 1 1 0 $210,536 Mel Beach $92,554 12 $30,667 17 $78,235
Mr. Sekiguchi Storm Cat Bridlewood Farm $182,360 7 1 1 1 0 $182,360 Rose and Shine $170,502 3 $3,400 8 $21,563
City Place Storm Cat Hartley/De Renzo $170,617 15 6 0 0 0 $170,617 Bob's Place $41,950 6 $9,583 16 $32,469
Bring the Heat In Excess (IRE) Ward Ranch $156,631 10 6 0 0 0 $156,631 Firefall $37,843
Black Mambo Kingmambo deceased $154,183 7 3 0 0 0 $154,183 Argentine Tango $91,550 3 $5,000 3 $10,903
Simon Pure Silver Deputy Hartley/De Renzo $148,454 13 7 0 0 0 $148,454 Pure Whim's Gem $38,800 7 $6,757 22 $13,732
Teuflesberg Johannesburg Journeyman Stud $141,040 13 3 0 0 0 $147,751 Trinniberg $101,300 1 $6,000 7 $44,000
Halo's Image Halo deceased $146,239 8 3 1 1 0 $146,239 Hello Prince $120,210 4 $5,675 4 $12,250
West Acre Forty Niner Stonehedge $143,893 8 5 0 0 0 $143,893 Melpomene $49,940 1 $2,500 5 $9,900
Indian Ocean Stormy Atlantic Bridlewood Farm $134,308 12 3 1 1 0 $134,308 Indian Assault $64,432 8 $5,063 7 $12,286
Proud Accolade Yes It's True deceased $119,125 8 4 0 0 0 $127,409 Gentlemans Code $40,222 7 $7,886 4 $56,750
Montbrook Buckaroo Ocala Stud $126,900 11 2 0 0 0 $126,900 Montessa G $38,225 4 $16,500 12 $35,142
Bwana Charlie Indian Charlie Journeyman Stud $113,920 12 5 0 0 0 $113,920 Galan's Wings $38,974 8 $3,500 15 $10,160
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58 THE FLORIDA HORSE • OCTOBER 2011
Inspiration that fosters meaningful innovation in the
racing business is as rare as a Triple Crown winner.
Basically, the sport defies meaningful positive
change. Speed from gate to wire is the immutable point
of every decision and action, from the planning of a
breeding, to conception, to the purchase of a yearling,
selection of a trainer and execution of a fragile career
plan. The variables, positive and negative, are many, but
also eternally present in a game of chance and fate.
Still, within that framework there is a richness of
color, stories untold, charismatic horses and above all a
connection between man and beast that is as old as the
human and the Thoroughbred. But we need ideas.
In almost three decades since the first running of the
Breeders’Cup, there has never been a time in which in-
novation, particularly in the interest of widening the
sport’s sphere of exposure and footprint, was more criti-
cal than it is at the moment. The Breeders’ Cup is ar-
guably the last idea in racing that really mattered.
While the opinion that the Breeders’ Cup has lost its
way while pursuing a course of dilutive expansion is
widely held and not without merit, it was, in its nascent
form, an event designed for television and executed with
remarkable effect.
Its founders promised the best day of racing ever held
in North America and the competitors, animal and
human,American and international, delivered.The multi-
hour, Saturday-afternoon network exposure achieved the
intended purpose brilliantly, the event encapsulated in a
dramatic, fast-moving package that has been essentially
nullified by the current two-day version, which is almost
allegorical. Major League Baseball stands as a sterling
example of the mutual exclusivity of a successful tele-
vised sporting event and a long attention span.
Quite simply, beyond the Triple Crown, there is far
too little racing on television, both regularly scheduled
and event-specific. Fans and horseplayers in too few mar-
kets have access to televised racing that is available in
home without fee-based subscription to one of the es-
tablished racing networks,TVG and HRTV.An audience
not served will eventually disappear.
Both interested horseplayers and casual fans have be-
come accustomed to in-home television access to any de-
sired product – golf to fishing, cooking to automobile
racing – available without cost beyond a standard fee.
Weekend telecasts of racing from Saratoga over the
summer and Keeneland during its fall meeting produced
by NBC and VERSUS proved quite popular this year,
evidence of demand that is largely unmet during most of
the year.
Stakes run during boutique meetings are easily
arranged into packages suitable for television but it is im-
portant that similar packages be created throughout the
year that lend exposure to important races that have dis-
appeared from broadcast schedules.
The lack of television exposure in recent years for
stakes run in winter and early spring that lead toward the
Kentucky Derby andTriple Crown is an alarming case in
point. In contrast, the popularity of one-day events such as
Super Saturday at Belmont Park underlines the appetite
for concentrated, high-quality banquet-style racing days.
Exposure of these and other races not available on
non-subscription television should be at the core of a na-
tionally focused marketing effort, but every attempt to
establish a central marketing effort has been abandoned
by the potential beneficiaries.
There is no better example of the industry’s short-
sighted approach to promotion than the piecemeal aban-
donment of the National Thoroughbred Racing
Association, established in no small part to serve the
sport’s marketing and media interests.
The NTRA’s communications office, once a robust
agency going back to a time when it was known asThor-
oughbred Racing Communications, now operates on
fumes and left without resources as racing associations
withdraw support. Growth of brand and the raising of
profile require time, money, effort and people with ideas.
Media is itself in a state of flux and themarketing land-
scape is forever changed. It is incumbent upon the sport’s
leaders to take up the cause of self-promotion, to make its
own stars and tell its own stories. Newspapers barely exist
anymore and few lend meaningful space to racing, fewer
still the educated manpower. Television is the most effec-
tive medium for this purpose but without a meaningful,
widely supported, internally propelledmovement, that rich
vein will at great peril remain unexplored. �
PLAYER’S PAGE
by Paul Moran
Media is itselfin a state of flux
and the market-
ing landscape is
forever changed.
It is incumbent
upon the sport’s
leaders to take up
the cause of self-
promotion, to
make its own
stars and tell its
own stories.
IdeasNeeded
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