Tracy Gantz

Santa Anita Trying New Synthetic Material to Fix Drainage Woes

January 15, 2008

Synthetic material that includes a liquid binder will be added to Santa Anita Park's main surface in an effort to improve drainage, the Southern California racetrack announced Jan. 15.

After several days of testing material manufactured by Read More

Rain Shuts Down Santa Anita Racing

January 06, 2008

Santa Anita officials canceled racing for Jan. 5 after Southern California was hit with the first of a series of rainstorms the previous evening. The Cushion Track synthetic surface, installed at Santa Anita this past summer to replace its main dir Read More

Track Records Set on New Santa Anita Synthetic Footing

December 27, 2007

It took only two races over Santa Anita's renovated Cushion Track for a horse to set a track record. Although times were quick, horses won from a variety of positions on opening day, Dec. 26, and the racing appeared to be formful. More Read More

Weather Complicates Santa Anita Footing Switch

December 19, 2007

Rain has further delayed renovation of the Cushion Track at Santa Anita Park.

Horses were unable to use the main track Dec. 19, when track officials had hoped to finish the project to address drainage problems with the surface. They had hoped Read More

Some Southern California Horse Owners Returning Home

October 24, 2007

Southern California horse and farm owners were beginning to gather information on their animals and property Oct. 24 in the wake of the wildfires that have hit the area. Fires continue to rage in San Diego County, but some evacuated people were Read More

Farms and Del Mar Offering Shelter from California Wildfires

October 23, 2007

Wildfires continued Oct. 23 to threaten homes and horse farms in Southern California, particularly in San Diego County.

Scoop Vessels' Vessels Stallion Farm is among the facilities that have taken in evacuated people and horses, even whil Read More

Cushion Track Gets Thumbs-Up at Opening of Oak Tree Meet

September 28, 2007

Safety was the watchword as Santa Anita became the third and final major Southern California racetrack to unveil its synthetic surface. Though Santa Anita's times Sept. 26--the opening day of the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting--were Read More

Polytrack Debuts Successfully at Del Mar

July 19, 2007

Trainer T.R. (Ray) Bell II and jockey Jon Court had never received so much attention for capturing a maiden event as they did when Special Smoke became the first horse to win a race over Del Mar's new Polytrack racing surface July 18.

"I had a Read More

Clenbuterol Use Below Expectations in Calif. Sample

February 16, 2007

Only about 12% of horses tested for clenbuterol had measurable levels of the medication in 193 blood samples taken recently, according to a report made by Rick Arthur, DVM, Thursday to the California Horse Racing Board medication committee. Read More

Clenbuterol, Steroids Dominate Southern Cal Talks

January 19, 2007

The use of clenbuterol and the potential elimination of anabolic steroids were the primary subjects of two meetings Thursday at Santa Anita. California Horse Racing Board Chairman Richard Shapiro, executive director Ingrid Fermin, and equine Read More

California Vets Provide EHV-1 Update, Offer Prevention Advice

January 17, 2007

While one barn at Los Alamitos remains under quarantine due to equine herpesvirus-1 positives, the situation in California appears to have calmed down considerably. Rick Arthur, DVM, the California Horse Racing Board equine medical director, Read More

EHV-1 Update: Golden Gate Horse Positive; Quarantine Issued

December 30, 2006

Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and Pleasanton were placed under quarantine Dec. 29 after a horse from Golden Gate was diagnosed as positive for the neurogenic strain of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).

The California Horse Racing Board Read More

Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Facilities Progressing

December 10, 2006

The Hong Kong Jockey Club reported on the progress of its construction of new facilities for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events during the week of its Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races. While the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Read More

Ouija Board Withdrawn From Final Start Due to Soreness

December 09, 2006

Ouija Board has been withdrawn from the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday due to soreness in the splint bone of her left foreleg.

The mare had been expected to conclude her Read More

Racehorse Futural Retired to Old Friends

December 01, 2006

Millionaire Futural, who won the 2001 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) and San Bernardino Handicap (gr. II) and has most recently been running at Hastings Park, is being retired to Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky. Southern California equine Read More

Stevie Wonderboy's Return Delayed by Ankle Chip

November 20, 2006

Eclipse Award winner Stevie Wonderboy had a small chip taken out of his right front ankle a week ago, said trainer Doug O'Neill. The 2005 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner had been doing well on the comeback trail, but came out of his last work with Read More

Cushion Track Praised as Hollywood Park Opens

November 02, 2006

Victor Espinoza took only two races to become the first jockey to ride a winner over both Hollywood Park's new Cushion Track and Keeneland's Polytrack. Second in Hollywood's autumn meet opener Nov. 1, Espinoza won the second race aboard Robert Read More

California West Nile Virus Seminar

May 01, 2003

California is bracing for West Nile virus (WNV). N. James MacLachlan, BVSc, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of California, Davis, said that he and his colleagues expect to Read More

California West Nile Virus Seminar

March 10, 2003

California is bracing for an onslaught of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses this year. N. James MacLachlan, BVSc, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, said that he and his colleagues expect to see the first dead birds infected with WNV in Read More