Thoroughbred Daily News July 9 2014

1. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014
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GATSBY TO STAR IN PARIS AGAIN
The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), winner
of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen June 1,
could make a return trip to Paris for Sunday=s G1 Grand
Prix de Paris at Longchamp. Trainer Kevin Ryan told At
The Races it could be a good test of the grey=s distance
limitations, as well as giving him a
prep for the G1 Juddmonte
International Aug. 20.
"He had a little break at the
National Stud after his last run,
but he got fresh very quickly,"
Ryan told At The Races. "We
decided it was a long time
between his last run and the
Juddmonte at York. He was in
this race, and it will answer some
questions [as to whether] he stays
1 1/2 miles or not.@
Ryan added that The Grey
Gatsby=s participation could
depend on ground conditions.
"He wouldn't want extreme
conditions so we'll keep an eye on the forecast, and he
won't leave until Thursday anyway," the trainer said.
SHEIKH FAHAD ON VERGE OF JRA LICENSE
By Michele MacDonald
Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Al Thani has taken another bold
step forward in his worldwide racing operation as he
moves to finalize details for a Japan Racing Association
owner's license and set up a stable in Japan.
David Redvers, Sheikh
Fahad's bloodstock advisor,
said July 7 that the
licensing process is on the
verge of completion. The
timing is ideal, as Sheikh
Fahad and Redvers prepare
to travel to Japan for the
July 14 to 15 Japan Racing
Horse Association select
sale in Hokkaido.
"I'm sure we will [buy at
the sale]," Redvers said
when asked about plans for
shopping. Last year, in their
initial foray into the
Japanese market, Sheikh
Fahad and Redvers picked
out two yearlings and three foals, paying a total of
-174 million ($1,705,877 under market exchange rates
during the sale) for the group.
Cont. p3
CALL FOR COOPERATION AS SUMMIT OPENS
by Amanda Duckworth
Communication and cooperation were predominant
themes during the first day of the Welfare and Safety
of the Racehorse Summit V, which kicked off at
Keeneland Tuesday.
The entire morning was dedicated to a presentation
on how using data can keep horses safe, while the
afternoon covered several topics, including updates on
the National Uniform Medication Program and the
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, as well as a
debate on today=s Thoroughbred and a look at training
and bone development in racehorses.
AToday, I think we see a series of rules being
introduced proactively in response to data collection
and scientific research, and not crisis,@ said Dr. Jennifer
Durenberger, the director of racing for the
Massachusetts Gaming Commission. AThese rules, in
particular those addressing safety standards,
medications, and veterinary practices, are meant to
provide clear guidance to our occupational licensees
while protecting our athletes and the integrity of our
sport.@
As Mike Ziegler, the executive director of the National
Thoroughbred Racing Association=s Safety and Integrity
Alliance, mentioned at the start of the program, there is
no silver bullet when it comes to the safety of the
equine athlete. However, cooperation within the
industry has led to finding ways to make the game
safer.
Cont. p6
The Grey Gatsby
Racing Post
David Redvers & Sheikh Fahad
at last year’s JRHA sale
Michele MacDonald

2. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 7/9/14 • PAGE 6 of 13 • thoroughbreddailynews.com
Call for Cooperation as Summit Opens (cont. from p1)
AOne of the great disservices I did for many years as
a regulatory veterinarian after a horse was fatally
injured was walk up to the trainer and say, >Man, I am
really sorry,= and then walk away,@ said Dr. Mary
Scollay, the equine medical director for the Kentucky
Horse Racing Commission. AThe thing we have failed to
do all along is talk to the people, and that, as it turns
out, is where we have gotten our best information
about how to change the situation.@
During the panel, Finger Lakes=
examining veterinarian Dr. Lisa
Hanelt discussed how paying
attention to the horse population
at a specific track can help
examining veterinarians prevent
catastrophic injury. For instance,
what might be considered high
risk at a track like Keeneland, may not necessarily be at
a track like Finger Lakes.
AThe population of horses racing at each racetrack is
slightly different,@ she said. AThis means the risk factors
are also probably slightly different. They will share
some things in common, and the Jockey Club risk
factors are indeed important for our horses, but there
are other things that are specific to ours. For examining
veterinarians, the bottom line is anyone can do this. It
is not anything special. Make a spread sheet and look
at your horses. Identify your high-risk cluster of
horses.@
One track that has publicly stated it wants to be an
example of a Abest practice@ facility under the Safety
and Integrity Alliance is Woodbine. Stephen Koch, the
track=s vice president of Thoroughbred racing, was
brought in to explain how the operation has made
strides to go above and beyond the baseline standards
for accreditation.
Examples such as a $500,000 custom-built starting
gate, awareness of the location of every single horse
stabled on the grounds, helmet and safety vests for
assistant starters and valets, and weather prediction
technology were mentioned, but Koch also has his eye
on future steps to take.
AThere is a next step in all of this that I think the
industry may be much remiss for not engaging in,@ he
said. AHow is it that we as an industry are still not
formally tracking non-racing injuries and fatalities?
AHow much insight have we forgone by not holding
tracks, horsemen and facilities accountable for the
incidents that happen off of the race-day radar? I know
it is a difficult nut to crack. Perhaps forums such as
exactly this one are just the place to plant that seed
and hope for some germination.@
Medication uniformity is another area where
cooperation is required in order to achieve noticeable
results. Less than a year ago, the Racing Medication
and Testing Consortium approved the Multiple Violation
Penalty System, which is designed to reduce positive
drug tests while identifying and penalizing trainers with
multiple infractions.
ABecause it is the newest part of the program, it has
not been adopted in many jurisdictions,@ said Dr. Dionne
Benson, the RMTC=s executive director and chief
operating officer. AMore than anything, it is important
that this program be uniformly adopted by the states. If
it is not adopted by all the states, or the majority of the
states, it will not be effective. One of our goals is to
encourage states to adopt this portion of the
medication program. The industry is closer than ever to
a uniform medication policy. I hope to stand up here in
a year and be able to tell you that we have uniformity
in most, if not all, jurisdictions on these 26
medications. Everyone is truly interested in getting this
accomplished across the United States. As an industry,
we need to continue to help those states that have not
fully implemented the program.@
The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit
concludes today.