Esther Marr

Banned Suffolk Downs Trainers Reinstated

April 17, 2009

Three of the five trainers that were banned from Suffolk Downs last fall for violating its zero tolerance policy toward horse slaughter have been reinstated and will be allowed to Read More

2008 Kentucky Breeders' Incentives Announced

March 28, 2009

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced March 27 the Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund will distribute more than $18.7 million in awards for 2008.

While this year's KBIF awards are down from the $19,220,007 paid in 2007, they are Read More

Undefeated Mare Peppers Pride Moves to Kentucky

March 09, 2009

On a warm and windy overcast morning March 6, trainer Joel Marr stood pensive in the shedrow of his undefeated world record holder Peppers Pride's new home at Nathan Fox's Richland Hills Farm near Midway, Ky. Although in less than 24 hours, he Read More

Stakes Winner Kelly's Landing Could Return as Pony Horse

February 23, 2009

Kelly's Landing, a Thoroughbred racehorse whose career was highlighted by a victory in the 2007 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen, ran his last race Jan. 17 and is now enjoying some rest and relaxation.

The 8-year-old son of Patton has been Read More

Turfway Reports Reduction in Injuries

February 11, 2009

A month after eight catastrophic injuries occurred during Turfway Park's 21-day holiday meet, state veterinarian Bryce Peckham, DVM, and Turfway president Bob Elliston were on hand at a Feb. 10 Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting in Read More

Kentucky Horse Farms Deal with Ice Storm Aftermath

January 30, 2009

While the icy wonderland that has blanketed the Bluegrass region left more than 600,000 Kentuckians without power the week of Jan. 25, Thoroughbred farm managers are doing all they can to keep their operations functional and safe in spite of Read More

Illinois Track Implements Welfare Plan

January 28, 2009

To make its position on horse slaughter clear, Fairmount Park in Illinois has put in place a zero-tolerance policy that would take stalls away from trainers linked to that industry. The track has also created an adoption program for Fairmount Read More

Vets Investigate 'Unusual' Injuries at Fair Grounds

January 25, 2009

Although five horses have been euthanized as a result of catastrophic injuries at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots since Jan. 17, Tom David, DVM, equine medical director for the Louisiana State Racing Commission, said the incidents appear to Read More

One-Eyed, 26-Year-Old Thoroughbred Stallion Rescued From Slaughter

December 26, 2008

Clever Allemont, a 26-year-old Thoroughbred stallion, has been rescued from the road to slaughter and will be shipped to Kentucky to spend the rest of his days at Old Friends near Georgetown.

A stakes winning son of Clever Trick who stoo Read More

Stakes Winner Springside Recovering After Surgery

December 02, 2008

Springside, who suffered a fracture to her right-front pastern after capturing the Nov. 29 Demoiselle Stakes by 9 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct, is recovering well at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.

Dean Read More

Fire Kills 27 Horses at Thoroughbred Training Facility

November 20, 2008

A barn fire that broke out the morning of Nov. 20 killed 27 horses at Riverside Downs, a former harness track that is being used as a Thoroughbred training and boarding facility in northern Henderson County, Ky.

Bill Shaw, chief of the Baskett Read More

Suffolk Downs Bans Five Trainers Under Anti-Slaughter Rule

November 14, 2008

Holding fast to its zero tolerance policy toward horse slaughter, Suffolk Downs decided to ban five trainers who were involved--although all claim unknowingly--in an incident that Read More

Men Who Saved Horses from Barn Fire Honored

October 24, 2008

It was hard for Todd Malley and Larry Higgs to speak after watching a video at the Race Track Chaplaincy Association's White Horse Award Luncheon that told the story of how they rescued 19 horses from a barn fire. The two grown men wiped their Read More

Injured Racehorse Chelokee Discharged from Hospital

August 28, 2008

Chelokee, who sustained injuries during the Alysheba Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks Day undercard at Churchill Downs, has changed residencies from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to Tom Read More

Suspension Reduced for Jockey who Whipped Horse in Face

July 23, 2008

Jockey Jeremy Rose, who was suspended for six months for whipping his mount Appeal to the City in the face during a June 23 race at Delaware Park, had his suspension reduced to 90 Read More

More on Jockey Suspension Reduction

July 23, 2008

Following a three-hour hearing that resulted in the reduction of Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jeremy Rose's suspension from six months to 90 days, attorney Alan Foreman and Bernard Read More

New Racetrack Opens in Detroit, Crowd Exceeds Capacity

July 21, 2008

Jerry Campbell, chairman and CEO of the new Pinnacle Race Course near Detroit, Mich., said he couldn't remember the last time horse racing was featured on the front page of The Detroit News. Even when the old Detroit Race Course was up an Read More

On the Mend: Chelokee's Prognosis Good

June 28, 2008

Larry Bramlage, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, who in mid May said grade III winner Chelokee's chances of survival were at 60-40 after the colt dislocated his right front ankle, is now talking about the colt being released from Rood & Riddle Equine Read More

Suspended Jockey Responds to Whipping Incident

June 26, 2008

Jockey Jeremy Rose was suspended for six months following a stewards' hearing the morning of June 24 for whipping his mount Appeal to the City in the face during the third race at Delaware Park June 23. (For more on this see "Read More

Jockey Suspended for Using Whip on Horse's Face

June 25, 2008

Jockey Jeremy Rose was suspended for six months following a stewards' hearing the morning of June 24 for whipping his mount Appeal to the City in the face during the third race at Delaware Park June 23.

In the official ruling, Delaware Park Read More

Bramlage, Chairman Explain Racehorse Safety Recommendations

June 18, 2008

Following the recommendations The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee made regarding the elimination of steroids, ban of toe grabs, and changes in whip usage, chairman Read More

Track Superintendents Say Don't Diss Dirt

June 04, 2008

On the second day of the Track Superintendent Field Day at Keeneland June 3, the focus was turned toward dirt tracks, as a panel of six superintendents from across the nation talked about various methods used on the surfaces.

Jerry Porcelli Read More

Track Superintendents Talk Synthetics

June 03, 2008

With track safety being one area of the racing industry under scrutiny, the seventh annual Track Superintendent Field Day conference at Keeneland June 2-3 seemed an especially timely opportunity for questions to be answered by synthetic-track Read More

Veteran Campaigner The Tin Man Retired, Recovering from Fracture

May 23, 2008

The Tin Man, who has spent the last several months recovering from a fractured knee at Santa Anita Park, has been sent to Martin and Pam Wygod's River Edge Farm near Buellton, Calif., for his retirement.

Trained throughout his career by Read More

Gallup Poll: Significant Minority Support Horse Racing Ban

May 16, 2008

In the wake of Eight Belles' euthanasia after sustaining catastrophic injuries in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, a recent Gallup pollRead More