Roberto Teran Tafur won the Idle Dice Stake at Devon over McLain Ward
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By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--Roberto Teran Tafur of Colombia on BP Wakita was clean in 34.27 to win the $145,100 Idle Dice Stake on Saturday evening at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Roberto Teran Tafur on BP WakitaMcLain Ward on First Lady went three horses after Teran Tafur, but despite quick turns was unable to catch him, finishing clean in 34.33, 6/100ths of a second slower, to place second.
"I'm feeling super excited," said Teran. "This mare means a lot to me. Winning at Devon, and with the group that made it to the jump-off, is really hard. And it feels just great."
The class was halfway over before the first horse went clean, and it was beginning to look like no one was going to go clean.
But then the 13th to go, Jimmy Torano on Chewbacca went clean, and amazingly after that the gates opened and over half of the remaining entries went clean.
Eight made it to the jump-off, with six of those going clean again.
DEVON, Pa.--McLain Ward on Catoki won the $38,700 Speed Derby over Cathleen Driscoll and Laura Chapot on Friday evening at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
McLain Ward on Catoki Riding his speed specialist Catoki, Ward was clean in 76.19, a time that looked virtually uncatchable when he went, but Driscoll, who trains with Henri and Katie Prudent in Middleburg, Va., going second to last on Flotylla, almost caught him, finishing clean in 76.65.
The Speed Derby course of fences set at 1.45m was set in both the Dixon Oval and the Wheeler Ring, starting in the Dixon Oval, going into the Wheeler Ring and then finishing over two fences back in the Dixon Oval.
Four seconds were added to the finishing time for each rail down, so it was possible to get a good ribbon even with a rail down.
Ashlee Bond won the $226,000 Devon Grand Prix in a three horse jump-off
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By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--Ashlee Bond on Donatello 141, riding for Israel, won the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon over Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue and Schuyler Riley on Robin De Ponthual in a three horse jump-off on Thursday evening, June 1, at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Ashlee Bond on Donatello 141Having to go first in the jump-off, Bond laid down a very fast, clean round in 37.29 seconds that proved uncatchable.
Eddie Blue has a very big stride and is deceptively fast, but Ryan steadied him a couple of times, particularly to the last fence, and finished a full second back in 38.29.
Last to go, Riley, who had been second in last year's Grand Prix, had eight faults in 39.32 to finish third.
"I've had my horse for six years, so the plan is always the same, to do what's best for my horse regardless of who's behind me," said Bond. "We know each other inside and out. He reads my thoughts."
Bond said she hadn't walked the jump-off course and never walked jump-off courses with Donatello.
“He’s so adjustable," said Bond. "I land, and I’m just always pushing him to go as fast as he’ll go. He’s not really trying to run, I’m encouraging him to go faster. I just see where I’m at and do what I feel he can do in that moment, and it’s worked out so far most of the time.”
McLain Ward won the Power and Speed Jumper, and Nick Haness was Leading Hunter Rider
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By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--McLain Ward on First Lady won the $38,700 Power and Speed Open Jumper class Wednesday evening at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
McLain Ward on First LadyIn Power and Speed, competitors jump a course with a time allowed and the go through timers onto the Speed phase, and the accumulated faults are counted for the whole course but the time in the Speed phase separates all those without fault.
Ward finished clean in 30.69, but Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain on Changing Tatum, going third from last, almost caught him, finishing in 30.73.
Laura Chapot on Chandon Blue, who went very early in the class, finished third in 31.09, with Roberto Teran of Colombia on Wakita fourth in 323.09.
"First Lady is a mare belonging to Robin Parsky that we bought as a 7-year-old," said Ward. "We've been producing her, and last year she started putting it all together."
"She's very rideable," said Ward. "She's a handy horse, so I can make quick turns. She's quick naturally."
Alex Matz won the Jet Run Welcome Stake at Devon, class named in honor of his father Michael's horse
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By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--Alex Matz of Cochranville, Pa., on Cashew CR won the very first Open Jumper class he had ever ridden in at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, the $38,700 Jet Run Welcome Stake, on Tuesday evening, May 30.
Alex Matz on Cashew CRAnd to make it even more memorable, the Welcome Stake was named in honor of Jet Run, one of the top horses that his father Michael had competed.
"Devon is all about history, to to win a class named in honor of Dad's best horse was something special," said Matz. "I've competed here before in pony jumpers and amateur owner jumpers, but that was the first time I rode in an open jumper class here."
Matz turned pro a couple of years ago, and he has been consistently getting better and better.
The Welcome Stake was a time first round speed class, and Matz finished clean in 56.32, a second and a half better than second placed World Championship team gold medalist Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., on Eddie Blue, clean in 57.83.
Roberto Tehran, an Olympic veteran from Columbia, on BP Wakita was third, clean in 58.02, and Olympic team gold medalist Mclain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., on First Lady was fourth, clean in 58.73.
U.S. wins San Juan Capistrano Nations Cup for second critical victory
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By Staff Writers
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--The U.S. Jumping Team won the Oaks International Grand Prix in front of a packed house at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at the San Juan Capistrano International on Sunday, May 14.
McLain Ward on Contagious (Photo by McCool Photography)It was a critical victory, as the team is now one step closer to qualifying for the Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona this September.
The team of Lillie Keenan, Karl Cook, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward completed the two-round competition on a total of 12 faults ahead of Ireland, who finished on 17, and Mexico was third on a team total of 33.
The U.S. had already won the class when Ward went last in the class, but, as the only rider who could win the $50,000 bonus for going clean in both rounds in the Nations Cup, Ward on Contagious competed despite the team having already won, and he indeed did go clean to claim the bonus.
That bonus goes to Ward and/or Contagious' owner as the USET is paying the expenses for the team in this critical endeavor to qualify for the Olympics.
Willie Mullins' Scaramanga beat Snap Decision in $200,000 Iroquois Stakes
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By SARA CAVANAGH
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Irish invader Scaramanga, trained by champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins and ridden by champion Irish jockey Paul Townend, won the $200,000, G1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths over Snap Decision at the Iroquois Steeplechase on May 13..
Scaramanga (left) leads Snap Decision (Right) over the last in the iroquois Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Jack Fisher, was ridden by Sean McDermott after his regular jockey, Graham Watters, suffered a back injury in a fall at the Virginia Gold Cup a week earlier.
Snap led through most of the race, although not by as much nor as brilliantly as ha has in past races, until Scaramanga drew even with him over the last fence and then drew off in the stretch.
"He got beaten by a better horse," said Fisher. "But I know he didn't like the going. He'll probably go to the race at Belmont next and then to Far Hills.""
The going was listed as good, although it appeared closer to soft than firm, and in the past Snap's connections have said they wouldn't race him again on the soft going that he doesn't like.
McLain Ward on Kasper van het Hellehof wins the Grand Prix of The United States CSIO5*
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By Staff Writers
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. --McLain Ward on Kasper van het Hellehof won the $222,618 Grand Prix of The United States CSIO5* in a two horse jump-off att he San Juan Capistrano International on Friday, May 12.
McLain Ward on Kasper van het Hellehof (Photo by Matt Turer)Ward finished in a time of 37.42 seconds,beating Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia of Mexico on H-Lucky Retto in the two-horse jump-off.
Ward of Brewster, N.Y., on Kasper van het Hellehof went towards the end of the order in the first round set by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, which proved to be a challenging track for the 21 competitors contesting the class.
Ward's win was his first CSI5* Grand Prix victory on Kasper in their three-year partnership.
“It’s a huge win," said Ward. "He’s been a great campaigner for us. His ownership team is a group of people who are really behind the United States and international competition, and it really makes it that much more special to win our home Nations Cup Grand Prix.”
Conor Swail won the Welcome Stake at the San Juan Capistrano International that culminates with the Nations Cup Sunday
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By Staff Writers
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--Ireland's Conor Swail won the $15,000 CSI2* Welcome on Wednesday, May 10 at the San Juan Capistrano International CSIO5* competition that features the all important Nations Cup on Sunday, May 14.
Conor Swail on Gamble (Photo by McCool Photography)Swail rode Gamble to beat a field of 46 entries to start the first week of international competition.
As the second entry to go on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field, Swail led the class nearly beginning to end.
He finished the two-phase course, designed by Venezuela’s Leopoldo Palacios, in what would prove to be a winning time of 27.24 seconds.
Coming quite close to catching Swail was Kyle King on Cerolino, who finished in a time of 27.34 seconds.
Alexis Sokolov on Fasole du Seigneur was third in a time of 27.82 seconds.
“We had a good round today; I was very pleased with Gamble,” said Swail. “Gamble and I have been together now for three or four years. He’s a very good, competitive 1.50m horse and higher. He’s just come back from three months off. He didn’t jump all winter, so it’s actually really nice now. I’m very happy with how he feels. He’s competitive, and he always gives his all, so as you can see today, it worked out great for me.”
The Equine Medical Center to add a new indoor arena
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By SARA CAVANAGH
By Sharon Peart
LEESBURG, Va.--The Equine Medical Center sports medicine complex will be complete in late fall with the addition of a new indoor arena.
Demonstrating the power of philanthropy, the newest addition to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) hospital complex in Leesburg, Va., is finally underway.
Linked to the Youngkin Equine Soundness Clinic and the Equine Podiatry Center by covered walkways, The Jane and Stephen Hale Equine Performance Evaluation Center will become an integral part of the equine athletic evaluation and treatment complex at the hospital.
The new indoor arena will enhance the center’s sports medicine capabilities that are already available to equine athletes by integrating lameness evaluations, the center’s impressive imaging modalities, therapeutic podiatry, and heart and lung evaluations.
“The addition of a covered arena with hard, medium, and soft surfaces for the dynamic portion of soundness exams, and a safe enclosed riding area for under saddle lameness examinations and upper airway dynamic endoscopy will expand and enhance our performance evaluations,” said Jennifer Barrett, Theodora Ayer Randolph Professor of Equine Surgery.
These interconnected facilities will promote a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment, with specialists from different fields working together to solve sometimes complex athletic limiting issues in the horse.
Aimee and Frank Batten, Jr., provided the generous initial challenge gift to encourage and inspire others to support and fund the project, which was followed by several significant donations.
Joe May ’62 and Bobby May were inspired by the Battens and the generosity of others to work with EMC to designate a gift from the estate of Stephen and Jane Hale to fulfill the match goal.
The Battens had no desire to name the new facility and were delighted to have their match challenge met and supported naming the new facility after the Hales.
The project, which will be completed in late fall 2023, was made possible by generous philanthropic support from visionary individuals who value the availability of top-notch equine clinical care in the region.
Jack Fisher saddled two stakes winners at the Virginia Gold Cup
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By SARA CAVANAGH
THE PLAINS, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled two winners as well as both the first and second placed horses in the featured $100,000 David Semmes Memorial Hurdle Stakes at the Virginia Gold Cup on Saturday, May 6.
Welshman under Graham Watters leads over last in the David Semmes (Photo by Tod Marks)Harold Via's Welshman ridden by Graham Watters, won the David Semmes by 2 lengths over stablemate Riverdee Stable's Gordon's Jet, ridden by Jamie Bargary.
Welshman went to the front about halfway through the race and held off Gordon's Jet, who had run second throughout the race.
"Graham gallops Welshman every day," said Fisher."He's a little difficult to gallop. He'll go to Saratoga next."
"Gordon's Jet is a lovely horse," said Fisher of the 7-year-old gelding that ran in handicaps in England through 2022 before coming to this country and winning his first race in this country at Tryon in April.
"I expected Welshman to run a good race," said Watters. "I didn't want to go to the front that early, but I didn't want to break his spirit."
Sheila Williams and Northwood Stable's Storm Team, ridden by Watters, won the $30,000 Steeplethon Stakes by 14 1/2 lengths over Brooklyn Speights, trained by Mark Beecher.
Storm Team, a stakes winner over timber, had been eased in his last race at Middleburg after leading for the first 2 1/2 miles.
Budweiser Clydesdales headline exhibition at Devon Horse Show and Country Fair
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By SARA CAVANAGH
DEVON, Pa.--The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales will perform in exhibition on three days at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
The Budweiser ClyesdalesThis great American Tradition, one of the most recognized corporate symbols on the planet, will appear Thursday June, 1 through Saturday June 3, at approximately 6:55 pm each evening.
The Clydesdales are the headliners of a number of exhibition, including Kindle Hill Foundation Natural Horsemanship, "Sharing the Magic of the Equine-Human Connection."
Kindle Hill Foundation's founder, Saly Glassman, acclaimed Natural Horseman Don Jessop, and local equine partner, Emma Holliday, will give a unique exhibition in the Dixon Oval on May 27 around 12:00 Noon.
Whether you're a rider, or trainer or someone who just enjoys horses, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the remarkable equine-human connection.
Saly, Don, and Emma will share their wisdom and experience, and of course, their special equine partners!
Kindle Hill Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves our community, particularly first responders, through equine-assisted learning and therapy to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
MINERAL SPRINGS, N.C.--Keri Brion saddled Upland Flats Racing's Freddy Flintshire to win the $50,000 Queen's Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes at the Queen's Cup Steeplechase on April 29.
Freddy Flintshire, ridden by Parker Hendriks (Photo by Tod Marks)Parker Hendriks rode Freddy Flintshire, and he kept tthe 5-year-old gelding in the back of the six horse field, beginning to make his move running down the hill, swiftly went to the front and won by 14 1/2 lengths over Cool Jet, trained by Jack Fisher.
"He's a really nice horse," said Brion. "I've had him since he was a 3-year-old. Originally,we weregoing to wait withhim until Saratoga, but he cameout of this race so weelwe're going to sendhim to Nashville in the Novice Stakes."
Freddy Flintshire won an allowance race at Saratoga last summer and then placed second by 1/2 length to Theocrat, also trained by Brion.
In 2021, her first year as a trainer, Brion trained an Eclipse Award winner, The Mean Queen, and was Leading Trainer, Money Won and was also Leading Trainer, Money Won in 2022, but so far this year she has had only three winners.
Withoutmoreado won the Maryland Hunt Cup as the Neilson sisters run first and second
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By SARA CAVANAGH
GLYNDON, Md.--Withoutmoreado (Ire) won the Maryland Hunt Cup by 10 3/4 lengths over Royal Ruse, the only two finishers from a starting field of eight.
Withoutmoreado at the third fence (Photo by Douglas Lees)Sisters Kathy and Sanna Neilson trained Withoutmoreado and Royal Ruse respectively.
Owned by Irv Naylor and ridden by Conor Tierney, Withoutmoreado ran second to Vintage Vinnie until after the 18th fence, when he passed Vinnie, who was then pulled up.
Charlie Fenwick's Royal Ruse, ridden by Elizabeth Scully, ran third until after the 18th fence, and then chased Withoutmoreado but was never able to close the gap to more than a few lengths and was slightly eased in the stretch when it was clear he was beaten.
"Ado squealed in the morning when he was turned out, and I thought then he'd have a good day," said Kathy. "He had just shed out the week before the Hunt Cup. I knew he was in good shape, but I would have been happy if he'd just jumped around okay."
Tierney, who's 19, had only come over from Ireland in March, and had only ridden in eight sanctioned races over timber," said Kathy. "I said to him the Wednesday before the race, after he'd walked the course, `If you don't want to ride in the Hunt Cup, now is the time to tell me.' But he said he was fine. The day of the race, I told him `Don't let your Mother see any of the fences, or she'll take you straight to the airport.'"
"I made Conor walk the course six times," she said. "Conor rode very bravely and boldly."
Tamie Smith on Mai Baum won the 5* Kentucky Three-Day Event, finishing on her dressage score of 24.2
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By Staff Writers
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Tamie Smith on Mai Baum finished on her dressage score of 24.2 to win the CCI5*-L at the Kentucky Three-Day Event on Sunday, April 30, and in winning she broke two long standing streaks.
Tamra Simth on Mai Baum (Photo by Sarah Miller, MacMillan Photo)It’s been 15 years since an American has won the Kentucky event and 12 years since a woman has won, and both those streaks were broken when Smith jumped a brilliant clean show jumping round for the win.
Smith and “Lexus” had all the pressure on them as they cantered into the Rolex Stadium.
Both Great Britain's Tom McEwen on JL Dublin and Liz Halliday-Sharp on Miks Master C had been clean, leaving them on scores of 27.8 and 28.5 respectively, and leaving Smith without a rail in hand.
Still, she cantered into the arena on Mai Baum and never faltered, leaving all the jumps up and coming home inside the time in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd of 23,576.
McEwan placed second and Halliday-Sharp finished third.
As the highest-placed American, Smith’s win also makes her the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champion, with Halliday-Sharp the reserve champion.
U.S. wins the Nations Cup in Mexico to open its campaign to qualify for the Paris Olympics
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By Staff Writers
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Mexico--It was a little too exciting a finish for the U.S. in the Nations Cup in Mexico, which was the beginning of a three pronged effort to qualify a show jumping team for the Paris Olympics.
Laura Kraut on Baloutinue (Photo by Pasion Ecuestre)Kraut, last to go for the U.S. in the second round, had to go clean to force a jump-off with defending Champions, Mexico.
Riding Baloutinue, Kraut under that pressure rode a beautiful clean round, and the U.S. and Mexico were tied with 8 faults, which forced a jump-off to determine the winner.
Kraut would not only produce that critical clear effort aboard her championship partner Baloutinue, but she would also go on to secure the victory for her team in a two-horse jump-off with Mexico's Eugenio Garza Perez.
On the team with Kraut were Kent Farrington on Landon, Jessica Springsteen on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve and Bliss Heers on Antidote de Mars.
Kraut had the only double-clear over Mexican Benjamin Fernandez's 1.60m track to win the bonus prize money.
In the jump-off, Kraut was clear again, with a winning time of 39.43 seconds. Garza secured second for Mexico aboard Contago with a jump-off time of 42.13 seconds.
Both teams finished the second round on total scores of 8 faults. Canada was third with 20 faults.
"When Laura went in for the second round, I said, 'We need two clear rounds out of you, starting now,'" said chef d''equipe Robert Ridland. "That wasn't counting her first one. We had already made that decision that she would jump-off if she was clear."
Great Britain''s Yasmin Ingham leads the Kentucky Three-Day 5*, with Liz Halliday-Sharp first and second in the 4*
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By Staff Writers
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Great Britain’s Yasmin Ingham on Banzai Du Loir leads in the CCI5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 21 after the dressage phase.
Yasmine Ingham on Banzai Du Loir (Photo by Sarah Miller)Ingham had a great year in 2022, and she’s looking to do it again as she rode before a crowd of 13,252, the largest Friday crowd since 2017.
“He was incredible out there,” Ingham said of the test which scored 22.1. “I’m so proud of him. He did everything I asked, and he just really did focus in there.”
Ingham and Banzai finished second in Kentucky in 2022, and then went on to win the Eventing World Championships in Italy later in the summer.
It was an incredible year for a young lady from the Isle of Man who was a relative newcomer to the top levels of the sport.
“This event was an amazing setup for our success at the World Championships (in Pratoni, Italy) last summer, so the thought process was to come back here and have a great ride to hopefully set us up again,” Ingham said. “It’s an awesome event. I feel very lucky to be here and just want to give it my best shot and stay as close to my dressage score as possible."
Barn for 62 horses sees success battling EHV-1 with AniCell Biotech’s EquusCell
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By Staff Writers
By Holly Vanderbraak
WILMINGTON, Del.--On March 9, an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak became a scary reality for Be Well at Wellspring Farm, a 62-horse boarding and lesson stable in Wilmington, Del., when they received confirmation of three cases of EHV-1 from their veterinarian, Dr. Jamie Minnella of Unionville Equine Associates.
One of these, the often-fatal neurological manifestation of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), meant an increased risk to other horses in developing EHM.
Delaware State Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Lopez, swiftly placed Wellspring under a state-mandated quarantine and advised on maintaining a quarantine area, implementing biosecurity measures, and conducting twice daily temperature checks on all horses to monitor for fevers, oftentimes the only presenting symptom of EHV-1.
The farm was required to be 21 days symptom free prior to resuming business as normal.
As the virus continued to slowly spread, restrictions were tightened, permitting only essential personnel on the property with assigned work areas and allowing only individual turnout for the horses.
These changes left 12 core staff members responsible for meeting all the routine and additional care needs for the farm.
Spirits and energy were waning as new fevers were discovered over the subsequent days, sparking concerns that every horse had already been exposed and the farm would continue to see fevers potentially for weeks.
Hunter Holloway won the bronze medal behind Henrik von Eckermann's gold in the Jumping World Cup Final
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By Staff Writers
OMAHA, Neb.--Hunter Holloway of Topeka, Kansas on Pepita Con Spita finished five beautifully ridden rounds in the Jumping World Cup Finals to place third behind the winner Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward and second placed Harrie Smolders 0n Monaco N.O.P. on April 8.
Hunter Holloway (Photo by Sarah Miller)In the two round Final, the leading 30 riders competed in the first round, and the top 20 returned for the second round.
The courses designed by Bernardo Costa Cabral of Portugal were championship tracks with both technical questions and big fences.
“Obviously, Hunter’s podium finish was fantastic,” said U.S. Jumping Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland. "She was so focused all week long. This wasn’t just the two rounds today; this was all four. She absolutely deserved to be there. It is always great to be on the podium, but it is even more fun because she is a hometown girl. She is from the Midwest and to be on the podium in Omaha has got to be really special. The experience she got at the World Cup Final last year in Leipzig clearly put her in good stead for this week. She knew what to expect and she rose to the occasion, so that was fantastic.”
Pennsylvania racing now under HISA, and Abbott and Patterson are on adjudication panel
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By SARA CAVANAGH
HARRISBURG,Pa.--The Pennsylvania Racing Commission is now officially under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, and two Delaware Valley residents, Rick Abbott and Duncan Patterson, are members of the Internal Adjudication Panel.
Russell Jones"We had a racing commission meeting March 28, and we gave final approval, so we are now officially part of HISA," said Russell Jones of Unionville, Pa., a member of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission. "They became officially in charge of all drug testing and all drug penalties on March 27."
"We are working with them," sad Jones."HISA has sub-contracted us as its agent in Pennsylvania. Their rules are not very different from ours, so it won't be much of a change for horsemen. We were doing everything in Pennsylvania before HISA according to its standards, so very little has changed."
"HISA is using the laboratory at New Bolton as one of its labs,"said Jones. "Because HISA is using New Bolton's lab, we don't have to pay New Bolton any more. So instead of owing $6 million a year, we're down to about $1.2 million, which is a big relief to the race tracks and horsemen."
Rick Abbott from Pennsylvania and Duncan Patterson from Delaware are two of the 15 members of the Internal Adjudication Panel that will hear controlled medication rule violation cases.
State stewards will be prohibited from participating in cases originating in their state, and all members of the panel will receive training on HISA's adjudication processes before they can hear cases and must complete continuing education on an annual basis.
Members of the panel are appointed for four year terms.