WEATHER

 

 

 

MARCH OCALA 2YO SALE – BIG MONEY

Led by a pair of colts that sold for $1.6 million, the Ocala March 2yo sale broke records on Tuesday with an increase in average of over 22% (up to over $190,000) per horse.
An Ontario bred colt by DISTORTED HUMOR  ENDLESS JOURNEY by Storm Cat topped the Canadian breds at $450,000. Bred by Christine Hayden of Lucan, Ontario, the colt was a $300,000 ‘short yearling’ purchase last January by Nat Rea’s REGIS RACING.

 

 

 

ONTARIO BREDS IN THE CATALOGUE – with Prices, hip no.’s,  and Gallop show times

 

OUT 17                 C     Tale of Ekati     Twice as Sweet     Ontario     Scanlon Training Center, Agent III     10
OUT 53          Y     F     Harlan’s Holiday     Allison’s Pride     Ontario     Eisaman Equine, Agent     7
$150,000 TOM DURANT  10 2/5  74                        C     Speightstown     Banga Ridge     Ontario     Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent I     5
$55,000 KENWOOD RACING 10 4/5 77                    Y     F     Scat Daddy     Baytree     Ontario     Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent VIII     5
$450,000 DONATO LANNI 10 1/5  135                      C     Distorted Humor     Endless Journey     Ontario     Scanlon Training Center, Agent I     10
OUT 224          Y     F     Medaglia d’Oro     Lady Charade     Ontario     Classic Bloodstock (Danzel Brendemuehl), Agent     9

$425,000 WHITEHORSE STABLES (ROBERT LAPENTA)  10 1/5  229                     Y     C     Blame     La Suena     Ontario     Eisaman Equine, Agent     7
OUT 238           Y     C     Old Fashioned     Lochrea     Ontario     SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II     2
OUT 294               F     Mineshaft     Mystical Beauty     Ontario     Eddie Woods, Agent LXXII     11
$70,000 TUCCI STABLES 10 2/5 296                           C     Stormy Atlantic     Nicki Knew     Ontario     SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II     2

$10,000 GEORGE SANTIS 10 1/5 319                   Y     C     Hard Spun     Penny Perfect     Ontario     Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent II     1
OUT 10 3/5 324                           F     Macho Uno     Pop Princess     Ontario     Scanlon Training Center, Agent I     10
OUT 346              C     Street Boss     Reggae Rose     Ontario     Classic Bloodstock (Danzel Brendemuehl), Agent     9
OUT 10 2/5  362                            C     Speightstown     Santerra     Ontario     Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XI     8
OUT 10 2/5 398                        F     Exchange Rate     Staid     Ontario     Scanlon Training Center, Agent I     10

 

WOODBINE/CANADIAN BUYERS

 

Calgary, Alberta’s JIM AND SUSAN HILL continue to replenish their racing stables as they bought three youngsters, all America-bred.

TUCCI STABLES, which won the Queen’s Plate last year with MIDNIGHT ARIA, bought an Ontario bred colt by Stormy Atlantic out of Knob Hill Farms stakes winner NICKI KNEW.

18         10.1     F          Warrior’s Reward     Unbridled Appeal     Eisaman Equine, Agent     Mark Casse, Agent     330,000
124         10.3     F          Majestic Warrior     Desert Bloom     Kenneth Lejeune, Agent     Jim & Susan Hill     150,000
131         10.3     C          Street Cry (IRE)     Dixie Holiday     Niall Brennan Stables, Agent X     Jim & Susan Hill     235,000
184         10.3     C          Eskendereya     Heart Rate     Casse Sales LLC (Justin Casse), Agent IV     Dr. Robert McMartin     150,000
218         21.0     C          Broken Vow     Kickin’ the Clouds     Ian Vickers, Agent II     Jim & Susan Hill     150,000
296         10.2     C          Stormy Atlantic     Nicki Knew     SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II     Tucci Stables     70,000
334         10.1     C          Medaglia d’Oro     Queen Martha     Eisaman Equine, Agent     Mark Casse, Agent     325,000
408         10.1     F          Malibu Moon     Sunshine for Life     Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XVIII     Mark Casse, Agent     700,000

 

 

SHE’S A BEAUTY

JUDY THE BEAUTY, foaled in Ontario at Adena Springs North in Aurora, started 2014 off with a bang as she won the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday in 1:08 1/5. That was good for a Beyer Figure of 95.
The  Ghostzapper – Holy Blitz, by Holy Bull five-year-old mare  is owned and trained by Wesley Ward. A $20,000 yearling purchase, she has won over $825,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOOKING FOR NEW THRILLS? YOU COULD BUY A HORSE

Toronto Star feature – March 8 2014

 

Jayson Horner is founder, president and CEO of a very successful on-line market trading business in Toronto but ask him about the thrill of winning a horse race and there is an extra twinkle in his eye.
Horner, 55, was introduced to racing by his late father as a child but it was just six years ago that he got back into owning racehorses.
Saturday, one of his horses in his small stable, Coltimus Prime, will tackle Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. Owned in part by Mike Weingarten, Coltimus Prime is nominated to both the American and Canadian Triple Crown races and is the product of a mare that cost Horner just $16,000.

“Aside from the passion I have for having built a successful business, there is a unique adrenaline rush every time one of my horses races,” said Horner. “And a great thrill that comes from winning a race.”
Horner wants more people to enjoy the experience of Thoroughbred ownership and that is why he started Facebook and Twitter accounts for Coltimus Prime and an informative website for his Cabarnet Racing Stable (http://www.cabernetracingstable.com/team.html)
“My three kids have developed an interest in racing with me and they communicate a lot on social networking,” said Horner. “So we thought it would be a good idea to  try to raise more awareness of the sport.”

While the Ontario horse racing industry has been on uncertain footing since the slots-at-racetracks program ended a year ago, purse money at Woodbine racetrack has remained steady and a new five-year funding and growth plan from the Ontario government is set to begin next month.
One of the most popular ways to get into ownership is through partnerships or syndicates. Rolph Davis, an ecologist, joined up with very successful The Very Dry Stable syndicate under trainer Robert Tiller almost two decades ago and now has his own small, but profitable stable.

“I think that it is possible to attract new owners into the game,” said Davis. “The best way is by establishing syndicates to claim horses and the trainer is key to making this successful. The best structure would see an initial purchase of a share in the partnership that cover all of the costs of the syndicate. I think that new owners do not want to deal with monthly payments [such as vet bills, blacksmith].”
Trainer and owner Catherine Day Phillips has also had success with syndicates such as Two Bit Racing Stable that campaigned 2005 Horse of the Year A Bit O’Gold and is hoping to rejuvenate the syndicate.
“We have been able to bring new people into racing in the last year,” said Day Phillips. “We have tried to start new syndicates on a number of occasions, but it has been a bit frustrating, as people were just not interested in investing, as the shares were too much, or the horses were too inexpensive.”

Glenn Sikura, president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Ontario division and owner of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Aurora, ON, has more partners and new owners than ever this year.
One family he met at his son’s hockey game and they are now 25% investors in a two-year-old by Ontario stallion Milwaukee Brew, the same sire as Coltimus Prime.

“People need to approach [horse ownership] with a goal in mind and do their due diligence,” said Sikura. “Do you want to be involved in racing with your family on a small scale or do you want to win the Kentucky Derby? I tell my new partners we can have a lot of fun but there are risks.”
“You you may go through a couple of horses before you even break even but then you can come across a horse or two that will really do well.”

Horner, who said the monthly cost for a horse at the track is about $3,000, said that ‘passion and patience’ are keys to entering racehorse ownership.
“The internet is wonderful for anyone wanting to get into the business; there is so much information out there to help with a safe entry into the business.”

There are hurdles, such as the Federal government’s taxation laws and restrictions on applying for losses. There is also good news as the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association recently announced added bonus money for Ontario-sired or bred horses.
Day Phillips believes that promotion of the excitement of the sport is key.

“I just think that not enough people know about it. Trainers, and I am guilty here, often are so focused on the day to day running of their business, that they forget the big picture. Racing is exciting and Woodbine is a fabulous place to bring people to. Getting new owners is critical to racing’s survival in Ontario.”

 

 

STEM CELL THERAPY BRINGS NEW HOPE TO INJURED HORSES

 

 

Stem cell therapy at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Health Sciences Centre is yielding promising results in the treatment of tendon injuries in horses.

Two horses are currently being treated using allogous stem cells – cells that were banked and transplanted from another donor horse – a medical first in Canada and among only a handful of cases reported worldwide.

“The results are encouraging,” says Dr. Judith Koenig, an equine surgeon in the Department of Clinical Studies and OVC’s Equine Sports Medicine and Reproduction Service. “Now we want to attract more cases so we can continue to evaluate stem cell therapy for the treatment of tendon lesions, ligament and joint injuries.”

Koenig is treating the horses using stem cells derived from the umbilical cord blood of foals obtained using a process developed by Dr. Thomas Koch, a veterinarian and researcher in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Koch’s work is focused on regenerative medicine and the potential of stem cells to repair damage to joints and cartilage caused by injuries and diseases such as arthritis.

The cases illustrate the hope and promise of stem cell therapy, and the need to proceed with caution.

Koenig first assessed one of the horses, a two-year old racing Thoroughbred, about seven months ago for an injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon in its right front leg.

“The injury was career-ending in severity using conventional therapies,” Koenig says.

So a new approach was needed. In June, stem cells were injected into the horse’s injured tendon. The horse has since shown remarkable improvement at its three-month and six-month rechecks at OVC.

“We were absolutely astonished,” says Koenig. “At three months, the tendon looked as good as it would after six months of healing. It looks amazing on ultrasound.”

Diagnostic imaging is provided by Dr. Heather Chalmers, who uses ultrasound to assess the injuries and to guide the injection of stem cells to the injury site.

The other horse, a Hanoverian breeding stallion, has received two stem cell injections to treat a chronic injury to its left hind leg that prevents him from mounting. The horse had been making good progress following successful surgery at OVC to treat a proximal suspensory lesion, but then came up lame again before Christmas.

“This time, he was more lame than before,” says Koenig. “Because our other stem cell patient was doing so well, we decided to try it in this case as well.”

However, while the injury responded well to the first injection, the follow-up ultrasound also revealed a new tear in another part of the tendon.

“He’s tolerating the stem cells quite well – there have been no signs of inflammation or rejection in response to the injections,” says Koenig. “So we plan to bring him back in a month for another injection and hopefully we’ll see improvement.”

Koch was the first to establish a protocol for collecting and differentiating stem cells from equine cord blood, a process that is non-invasive and simple compared with obtaining cells from embryos or bone marrow. Subsequent research, by a number of Koch’s and Koenig’ s graduate students, has shown that compared to cells from other sources, mesenchymal stem cells derived from cord blood have equal or greater potential for healing connective tissue, muscle and bone.

“From my perspective, these clinical cases are first of all about safety because these cells are not from the patients themselves, but transplanted from another horse,” says Koch. “Second, we want to know if the cells make a difference and help the patient heal – and it seems that they do.”

The hope is that allogous stem cells will offer at least one key advantage over autologous therapy in which the patient’s own cells are used: time. It can take two to four weeks to collect cells from the patient’s bone marrow, blood or fat, and culture the millions of cells required for injecting back into the injured tissue. The process only takes four to six days with cord blood including over night courier shipping to the treating clinician. Allogous cells can be banked for future “off the shelf” use, which means horses can be treated within days of being injured. Allogous cells can also be screened and categorized into cells with optimal properties for treating various conditions.

When treating soft-tissue injuries, timing is everything, says Koenig.

Studies of tendon injuries treated with bone-marrow-derived stem cells have shown that horses are much more likely to re-injure the same tendon if they’re not treated within 44 days.

“That’s why it’s so critical to treat them quickly,” she says.