Tom LaMarra
Tom LaMarra is the news editor for The Blood-Horse magazine.
Articles by Tom LaMarra
Sources: Snake Venom Found in Kentucky Search
July 07, 2007
Word is circulating in Kentucky that cobra venom, a substance used to kill pain, was found by investigators during a June 26 search of trainer Patrick Biancone's barn at Keeneland.
Several sources indicated, and media reports suggested, Read More
Taking the 'Un' Out of Unwanted Horses
June 20, 2007
The Unwanted Horse Coalition hopes to step up awareness and engage the entire horse industry in its "own responsibly" campaign.
The coalition, made up of industry organizations Read More
Preakness: Street Sense, Hard Spun Draw Outside Posts
May 17, 2007
Street Sense and Hard Spun, the one-two finishers in the May 5 Kentucky Derby, drew outside post positions for Saturday's Preakness Stakes, which as expected attracted a field of nine. Their connections, however, didn't seem concerned with the Read More
New Pennsylvania Track to Have Synthetic Surface
April 18, 2007
Presque Isle Downs, which plans to open Sept. 1 for its inaugural Thoroughbred meet, will have a synthetic surface, and a decision on the manufacturer could be finalized by the end of April.
Presque Isle, located near Erie, Pa., opened Read More
Training Stable, Medical Director Get Drug Council's Push
April 03, 2007
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has reaffirmed its support for a 20-horse training stable that will be used to produce samples for drug-testing research, but implementation of the program will wait until the Kentucky Horse Racing Read More
Funds for KHRA, Drug Testing Hang in the Balance
March 21, 2007
The Kentucky horse racing industry and some state lawmakers are rallying around legislation that would spare racetracks the cost of drug testing and provide millions of dollars a year to fund the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
The bill Read More
Ontario Reinstates Trainers With Aminorex Positives
March 14, 2007
Though it stands by its equine drug-testing program, the Ontario Racing Commission said March 13 it will allow trainers with positives for aminorex, a methamphetamine-like substance, to enter horses in races in the province. The investigation Read More
Drug Positives Have Regulators, Horsemen Scratching Heads
March 12, 2007
Recent positives for aminorex, a drug that has had no commercial source since the 1980s and has no place in racehorses under industry guidelines, has regulators seeking answers and horsemen on the defensive.
There have been positives for Read More
Kentucky Legislators: Horse Industry Deserves Better
March 12, 2007
Two Democratic legislators in Kentucky have formally asked Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher why the horse industry won’t have broad representation at an agriculture summit scheduled for March 15 in Louisville.
According to the state Web Read More
Kentucky Authority Wants Equine Medical Director
February 20, 2007
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority has on its wish list the position of equine medical director, funding for which would come from the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council.
The KHRA discussed the position during its Feb. 20 meeting Read More
Drug Contaminants, 'Zero Tolerance' Policy on Collision Course
February 12, 2007
A Louisiana research project that shows racehorses can come into contact with drug residue just about anywhere on the backstretch has some horsemen calling for an end to "zero tolerance" drug-testing policies and creation of a national panel to Read More
Temperature Believed to Have Impact on Polytrack
February 12, 2007
As officials and horsemen at Turfway Park work daily to find an optimum Polytrack surface for winter racing, there is growing sentiment the synthetic material is affected by temperature or swings in temperature.
Recently, horsemen have Read More
Immigration Bill Brings Call for Political Action
February 09, 2007
Horsemen have indicated they plan to step up efforts to educate legislators about their concerns regarding immigration policy in the United States given the horseracing industry's heavy reliance on foreign workers, particularly those of Hispanic Read More
Breeders' Cup Adds Three New $1-Million Races
January 08, 2007
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will have a new look at first-time host Monmouth Park this year--an expanded two-day event that will inaugurate three $1-million stakes designed to accommodate owners and breeders.
Select purse Read More
Delaware to Take Tougher Stance on Blood-Doping
November 30, 2006
Delaware is taking a harder line on use of erythropoietin and similar blood-doping agents.
The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, which already considers blood-doping a prohibited practice, may push for an increase in penalties. And Read More
Monmouth Still Slated to Host 2007 Breeders' Cup
November 29, 2006
Breeders' Cup officials visited Monmouth Park in New Jersey for a tour Nov. 28, but officials said it wasn't because the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority-operated racetrack was in danger of losing the 2007 Breeders' Cup World Read More
Power Shift in Congress has Ramifications for Equine Industry
November 17, 2006
The shift in power from Republicans to Democrats on Capitol Hill will have some affect on the horse industry's political agenda, but the results of the Nov. 7 election really didn't catch officials by surprise.
The Senate now has 50 Read More
Kentucky Regulators Examine Drug-Testing Procedures
November 03, 2006
As Churchill Downs prepares to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Kentucky regulators are examining the state's drug-testing policies and procedures. Upgrades, however, may hinge on state funding.
For the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup, a full Read More
Keeneland Sets Fall Meet Attendance Record
October 08, 2006
Keeneland officials reported an all-time fall meet attendance record of 28,880 Saturday, the second day of the Lexington racetrack's meet. The figure topped the previous record of 27,788, set Oct. 14, 1989.
The Oct. 7 program, which feature Read More
KEEP to Focus on Tax Relief for the Horse Industry
October 05, 2006
Tax relief for the horse industry, not racetrack gaming, will be the focus of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) during the 2007 General Assembly session, according to the chairman of the organization.
KEEP this year authored Read More
Kentucky, Ohio Employ Upgraded Blood-Doping Tests
September 08, 2006
Kentucky has performed random testing for blood-doping antibodies in racehorses of all breeds for more than a year, but now it's testing for the actual proteins, a process that could put more teeth in penalties.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Read More
California Using 'Milkshake' Blood Tests to Track Trends
July 17, 2006
California will soon release the results of a study that will reflect trends in connection with blood samples taken from about 6,000 racehorses for the purpose of "milkshake" --or TCO2 testing-- last year.
California takes blood from all Read More
Ferdinand Derby Anniversary Impetus for Slaughter-Ban Push
July 01, 2006
Supporters of legislation that would ban the transport of horses to slaughter for human consumption hope the measure will pass Congress this year, a co-sponsor of the bill said in May.
A media teleconference on the issue was held the week of Read More
Progress Made on Out-of-Competition Testing Front
June 08, 2006
Out-of-competition testing of racehorses can be problematic, but some jurisdictions are making headway to combat use of performance-enhancing substances that aren't administered on race day.
The Ontario Racing Commission, under a new Read More
American Horse Council Considers Unwanted Horse Coalition Proposal
June 01, 2006
The American Horse Council (AHC) board of trustees is considering a proposal that would place under the organization's umbrella a coalition working on the issue of unwanted horses.
At the AHC issues forum in April 2005, the American Read More
