Leslie Deckard
Leslie Deckard is a former staff writer for The Blood-Horse magazine.
Articles by Leslie Deckard
Officials Continue Review of Churchill Ambulance Response
November 17, 2006
In the days following the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs, questions remain as to why an equine ambulance was delayed in attending to Fleet Indian after the mare suffered an injury at the top of the stretch in the Read More
Kentucky Equine Drug Council Forms Testing Partnership with RMTC
October 10, 2006
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has allotted $1.5 million over three years to partner with the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium on a research project to determine withdrawal guidelines and threshold levels of therapeutic Read More
Katrina Still Affecting Louisiana Racehorse Sales, Breeders
August 31, 2006
One year ago all eyes were on the Gulf of Mississippi and the path of Hurricane Katrina. The category four storm made landfall in New Orleans Aug. 29 while many of Louisiana's breeders and consignors were attending the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer Read More
Keeneland Going With Polytrack; Other Track Renovations Planned
April 20, 2006
The Keeneland Association board of directors gave its approval to install a synthetic surface known as Polytrack on the main racetrack during an April 19 meeting. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and the Central Kentucky track will be Read More
Kentucky Issues Advisory on Naproxen Use
April 20, 2006
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has recommended horsemen discontinue the use of naproxen at least five days before a horse is scheduled to run to avoid facing a penalty if the horse tests positive for the drug on race Read More
Jockey Club Inspects Thoroughbred Broodmares
March 01, 2006
As a follow-up to a rule revision last August that added provisions for field inpections, The Jockey Club (TJC) sent two teams of representatives to Thoroughbred farms in six states in December 2005 to examine broodmares with early 2005 breeding Read More
Kentucky Works on Withdrawal Times for Medications
October 17, 2005
In the wake of controversy concerning its new medication regulations, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has formed two standing subcommittees to oversee the next phase of integrating the race-day medication regulations. The committees, Read More
Damage on Louisiana Thoroughbred Farms Not as Bad as Expected
August 30, 2005
The damage of Hurricane Katrina on south Louisiana Thoroughbred farms wasn't as bad as originally feared, but it will take time to repair and replace fencing and barns, as well as remove debris and tree limbs.
"It's not as bad as I Read More
Strangles Identified in Horse at Ellis Park
July 07, 2005
A 4-year-old filly stabled at Ellis Park in Henderson County, Kentucky, has been diagnosed with strangles. Rusty Ford, equine programs manager for the office of the state veterinarian, said the filly presented June 30 with an elevated body Read More
Jurisdictions Begin Milkshake Testing
April 01, 2005
Following recommendations issued in January by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, several racing jurisdictions have approved plans to test horses for evidence of "milkshaking" or excess levels of total carbon dioxide (TCO2) Read More
Panel Discusses Veterinary Disclosure, Accountability
November 09, 2004
The issue of full disclosure of veterinary procedures for horses offered at auction generated lively discussion during the Nov. 2 Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club meeting in Lexington. The Sales Integrity Task Force is preparing a Read More
Kentucky Panel Adopts Policy on Horse Identification
October 19, 2004
Horses racing in Kentucky will now be identified the morning of their respective races and before leaving the paddock following a directive from Jim Gallagher, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA).
Gallagher, Read More
Nurse Mares for Hire
March 23, 2004
It's a crisp February afternoon at Diamond A Farm near Versailles, Ky., and Emmett Davis backs his red pickup truck and trailer up to a foaling barn. Inside the trailer is a 6-year-old Rocky Mountain mare named "George." As Davis puts his truck Read More
High-Tech Horse Raising
August 13, 2003
Tracking the growth of young horses is going high-tech with a computer program called Gro-Trac. Developed by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), the program allows breeders to compare the growth rates of horses on their farms to others of the same Read More
New Immigration Act
April 01, 2001
Horse farm employees across the country can take advantage of the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act (LIFE Act). The LIFE Act allows illegal residents of the United States to file a labor certificate application, which among other things Read More
