Tom LaMarra
Tom LaMarra is the news editor for The Blood-Horse magazine.
Articles by Tom LaMarra
Horsemen's Group Hosts Racehorse Welfare and Safety Forum
July 21, 2008
During a July 18 equine welfare and safety forum, Jay Hickey recalled that in 1982, legislation to regulate parts of the horseracing industry was circulated in the halls of Congress. The bill, which had the not-so-enticing name of the "Corrupt Read More
Strategic Plan for Racehorse Safety in Works
July 18, 2008
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is formulating a "strategic plan" for equine health and safety and will seek support from various industry organizations when the document is released, probably in early fall.
NTRA president and Read More
Kentucky Racing Panel Reorganized Again
July 04, 2008
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order July 3 reorganizing and renaming the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA), which is now the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC).
Several of the "new" members already Read More
Hearing Shows Thoroughbred Racing at Critical Point
June 20, 2008
Drugged equines, grisly catastrophic injuries, greedy breeders, damaged racehorses with nowhere to go, inaction and confusion, and industry leaders more concerned with holding onto power than doing the right thing--a congressional subcommittee Read More
Racing Groups Have Say Before Washington Hearing
June 19, 2008
As the House Subcommittee on Commerce and Consumer Protection prepared for a June 19 hearing on the horseracing industry, groups continued to weigh in on various issues, including use of anabolic steroids in racehorses.
On June 18, the Read More
USDA, Horse Council Hold Unwanted Horses Forum
June 19, 2008
It tends to get lost in the shuffle because it's not as sexy as anabolic steroids, race-fixing, or catastrophic breakdowns from a media perspective. But talk to people who work in the horse industry every day, and they'll tell you the issue of Read More
Horse Industry Prompted to Get Involved in 2008 Elections
June 18, 2008
Although the United States presidential election will get the biggest headlines as November approaches, horse industry representatives were told June 17 they should pay attention to--and get involved in--congressional races around the country. Read More
Horsemen's Protective Association to Talk Equine Health, Safety
June 13, 2008
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will tackle equine health and welfare issues at a two-hour forum July 18 during its summer convention in Hershey, Pa.
The forum, the latest in a series of horse racing industry Read More
Michigan Thoroughbred Track on Schedule for July Opening
June 13, 2008
Pinnacle Race Course in Michigan remains on schedule for a July 18 opening.
Pinnacle, which will bring live Thoroughbred racing back to the Detroit metropolitan area for the first time since 1998, plans a "soft" opening this summer, Read More
Congress Calls June 19 Hearing on Racing
June 12, 2008
The United States House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection has scheduled a hearing--"Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and the Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse"--for June 19 in Read More
No Date Set for House Hearing on Racing
June 02, 2008
The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection continues to maintain it will hold a June hearing on horse racing, but no date had been set as of June 2.
The subcommittee is headed by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois and Read More
Congress Could Call June Hearing on Racing
May 27, 2008
A congressional subcommittee could schedule a hearing as early as June to examine breakdowns, medication use, and breeding practices in Thoroughbreds.
The United States House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection sent letter Read More
Racehorse Steroids: More Questions Than Answers
May 21, 2008
The complicated nature of regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses came to light May 20 when discussion among members of the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council and others seemed to indicate the easiest route is an all-out ban on the substances Read More
Pacers Take to Polytrack for Road Test
May 21, 2008
Harness racing at Keeneland? Yes, there was, but it's not what you might think.
Two exhibition races for Standardbred pacers were held at the Lexington racetrack the afternoon of May 21 to give the principals in a racetrack under Read More
Equine Welfare Key No Matter the Outcome
May 17, 2008
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) is prepared for "every potential outcome" on Preakness Stakes (gr. I) day, but no matter the result, developments in the area of equine health and welfare in the coming weeks and months are of Read More
Big Brown Stud Deal Will Have to Wait
May 16, 2008
Plans to announce a stallion deal for Preakness Stakes favorite Big Brown on May 15 fell through, but discussions will continue after the second leg of the Triple Crown is run May 17.
IEAH Stables co-president Michael Iavarone told The Read More
NTRA Calls for 'Urgency' In Addressing Safety Matters
May 10, 2008
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association continues to coordinate equine health and safety initiatives in response to the death of the filly Eight Belles, and on May 9 called for "urgency" and an end to the "status quo."
The NTRA board o Read More
Horse Industry: Don't Discount Animal Rights and Welfare Groups
May 09, 2008
Although their views and actions may at times be considered extreme and bizarre by some, animal rights and welfare groups have a large constituency, have proven effective at making their point, and shouldn't be disregarded when they seize on an Read More
Derby Death Spurs Action by Thoroughbred Groups
May 08, 2008
In the wake of the fatal injury sustained by filly Eight Belles in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, The Jockey Club has commissioned a seven-member Thoroughbred Safety Committee, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) board of directors Read More
Animal Rights Groups Target Eight Belles' Injury
May 06, 2008
In the wake of the death of the filly Eight Belles as she galloped out after the May 3 Kentucky Derby, animal rights organizations are publicly calling for changes--some of them drastic--for the horseracing industry.
The group People for th Read More
PETA Demonstrates; Could Pursue Charges
May 06, 2008
A spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which staged a peaceful demonstration May 6 in front of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority office near Lexington, said similar demonstrations are planned for upcoming Triple Read More
Kentucky Derby Filly Eight Belles 'Went Out in Glory'
May 04, 2008
A tearful Larry Jones said Eight Belles, who suffered a catastrophic injury in the gallop-out after finishing second in the Run for the Roses, said there would be no second-guessing in what he called an "unfortunate" outcome that couldn't be Read More
Review: Racetrack Fatality Ratio Changes
April 12, 2008
The number of catastrophic injuries on dirt tracks has gone up while the corresponding number on synthetic surfaces has gone down, according to a revision of a report first given at the March 17 Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.
The Read More
New Zealand Tests Imports for Equine Flu
April 04, 2008
New Zealand biosecurity officials are retesting samples taken from horses imported directly from the United States to the Karaka quarantine facility due to conflicting test results that indicate the presence of equine influenza, the Read More
Steroid Regulation Efforts Turning a Corner
March 27, 2008
Anyone who caught the opening comments of the March 26 medication roundtable in Austin, Texas, but left early and returned at its conclusion would have thought the worst--an industry meeting on the divisive topic of use of drugs in racehorses ha Read More
