TheFloridaHorse - March.2010

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8 FLORIDA FOCUS

20 BEST OF THE BESTThe 50th annual FTBOA AwardsDinner shines the spotlight on theFlorida Thoroughbred industry’sbest of the best in 2009.By Jo Ann Guidry

32 FLORIDA-BASED JUVENILECONSIGNORS DOMINATENATIONAL STANDINGSBy Jo Ann Guidry

35 ‘WE’RE IN FOR LEAN TIMES’Six of Marion County’s topequestrian and business leaderssat down with Ocala Style for anin-depth interview concerningthe state of Marion County’sThoroughbred industry.Reprinted with permission ofOcala Style magazine.

40 FLORIDA-BREDS SHINE ATOBS CHAMPIONS DAYBy Nick Fortuna

45 HITS’ ANNUAL EQUINEART GALA

48 HORSE COUNCIL NEWS

49 NEWS BITS

51 YOUR FLORIDA HORSE PARKBy Connie Duff Wise

52 CRITTERS AND PESTSDealing with critters and pests on ahorse farm is a nuisance—controlling them can become aconstant struggle.By Mark Shuffitt

58 WHEN HORSESBECOME TERMITESUnderstanding wood chewingand cribbing behaviors in horses.By Karen E.Davision,Ph.D

62 PLAYER’S PAGEBy Paul Moran

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4 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2010

MARCH 2010 • VOL 53 / I S SUE 3

CONTENTS

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FTBOA OFFICERS ANDBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gilbert G. Campbell, PresidentFred Brei, First Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., SecondVice PresidentGeorge G. Isaacs, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVEVICE PRESIDENTRichard E. Hancock

801 SW 60thAvenue • Ocala, Florida 34474(352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.ftboa.com

American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is publishedmonthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Sta-tistical Review in February.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors anddo not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publicationsor the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Associa-tion. Publication of any material originating herein is expresslyforbidden without first obtaining written permission from THEFLORIDA HORSE©.

Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing inNorth America are compiled from data generated by Daily Rac-ing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Serv-ices, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., thecopyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Compton

BUSINESS MANAGER

Patrick Vinzant

MANAGING EDITOR/ADVERTISING MANAGER

Summer Best

ART DIRECTOR

John Filer

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JoAnn Guidry

WRITER

Nick Fortuna

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Beverly Kalberkamp

CORRESPONDENTS

Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt

PUBLISHERFlorida Equine Publications, Inc.

(A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)

Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474

BOARD OF DIRECTORSGilbert Campbell, President/Board Chairman

Fred Brei, 1st Vice PresidentJ. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., 2nd Vice President

George G. Isaacs, SecretaryDiane Parks, Treasurer

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Michael Gilliam

Printed by Boyd Brothers, Inc. BOYD

THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2010 5

Joe BarbazonDean DeRenzoSheila DiMareDonald Dizney

Barry W. Eisaman

Brent FernungBonnie M. Heath IIIPhil MatthewsJessica SteinbrennerPeter Vegso

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Weembark on a new legislative session in

Tallahassee this month with a clear

sense of purpose. Implementation of the

pari-mutuel bill with an emphasis on generating

higher purses and breeders’ incentives as part of the

solution is of paramount importance to our future.

For years, we have impressed on our state’s elected

leaders the value of theThoroughbred industry to this

state’s economy. Legislators recognize the issues fac-

ing our business and during this session they will have

the opportunity to advance our industry.

We could be in for a rocky twomonths, however, as

there will likely be plenty of back and forth exchanges

between lawmakers. Legislative issues can be frus-

trating, but I assure youwe havemade steady progress

in the legislature each year. With patience and essen-

tial collaboration, we can make

Florida’sThoroughbred industry

strong again, a model for other

states and be in a position to

kick start our recovery.

Florida House Speaker

Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, visited

the Florida Thoroughbred

Breeders’ and Owners’Associ-

ation offices and addressed an

audience at a Florida Thor-

oughbred Farm Managers As-

sociation meeting just prior to

the start of this year’s legislative session to discuss

the pari-mutuel bill and the needs of our industry.

During last year’s regular session, the Florida Legis-

lature passed a bill that contained several measures set

forth by the FTBOA as being critical to Florida’sThor-

oughbred industry.The bill, which became law June 15,

was to cut the tax rate on slot-machine revenue in the

state from 50 percent to 35 percent in order to be more

competitivewith Indian gaming, allow for greater flex-

ibility in ourBreeders’Awards program and provide for

aThoroughbred racing permit for Marion County.

That bill, however, hasn’t gone into effect be-

cause it was tied to a broader gaming compact being

negotiated between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Semi-

nole Tribe of Florida. The compact agreed to be-

tween Crist and the Seminoles greatly expanded

gaming for the Seminoles to the detriment of the

state’s pari-mutuels, including Gulfstream Park and

Calder, and the Legislature rejected the changes.

Since negotiations on a new compact have

stalled, the House Select Committee on Seminole

Indian Compact Review introduced HB 7001 for the

2010 regular session. The bill would make the pro-

visions of the previously passed House bill effective

if passed and implemented by the House, Senate and

signed by the Governor without the coupling with

the compact. Negotiations continue between the

House and Seminoles and hopefully a conclusion

can be reached that will provide for some balance

and more equal competition between the state’s pari-

mutuel permit holders and Indian gaming.

This legislation, if it becomes effective, will set

the table for a new beginning for the Thoroughbred

industry in Florida. I believe it will put us in better

shape than most other states in terms of recovering

from the recession. Implementing this legislation

will inaugurate a new era for all those who have in-

vested in our business and continue to believe in the

promise of our industry as we do.

The Legislature is expected to address new gam-

ing issues regarding VLT’s, electronic bingo ma-

chines and/or Instant Racing. Our position in each

of the issues is that purses and Breeders’ Awards

must be included in the legislation, either in statutes

or by requiring a written agreement, before licenses

can be issued. Without that language (similar to the

slots legislation), any passage would be negative for

Thoroughbred breeders and owners.

Consideration also must be given to Tampa Bay

Downs and its proximity to the Seminole Tribe’s

Hard Rock Casino inTampa. The racetrack faces the

same issues there that Gulfstream Park and Calder

face in Miami. �

ExecutiveVice PresidentFlorida ThoroughbredBreeders’and Owners’Association

The Legislature is expected to

address new gaming issues regarding

VLT’s, electronic bingo machines

and/or Instant Racing. Our position in

each of the issues is that purses and

Breeders’Awards must be included in

the legislation, either in statutes or by

requiring a written agreement, before

licenses can be issued.

publisher’s point of view

Richard E. Hancock/ELEANOR HANCOCK

Purpose Driven

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Thestaff of Florida Equine Publications is re-

sponding to the changingways of delivering

words and images tomembers of theFlorida

Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association

and readers of our magazines—The Florida Horse,

Wire toWire andHorse Capital Digest.

Our recently re-tooledwebsite atwww.ftboa.com

now includes complete issues of The Florida

Horse, presented stylishly in their entirety as they

appear in print. News updates and stories from

Wire to Wire are posted on the website daily and

any information pertaining to the FTBOA and its

efforts to improve Florida’s Thoroughbred indus-

try can be found here. For those interested in track-

ing legislative progress from Tallahassee, the

website also includes a section of Legislative Up-

dates and FTBOA News Bulletins.

In addition to our interactive website, which in-

cludes membership and registration forms available

for download, a tool for checking on Florida-bred

registration status, streaming video, industry links

and much more, e-mail blasts are sent regularly to

members with e-mail addresses on file informing

them of important dates and key meetings.

These new avenues of com-

munication should not be the

sole source of information, but

viewed as an enhancement in

expanding reach and sharing

our message.

Marketing the Thorough-

bred business over multiple

platforms is vital to the in-

dustry’s survival. With cov-

erage of horse racing

dwindling in mainstream

press all around the coun-

try, it is imperative that our

industry trade publica-

tions weather this storm.

Stories about our leading sires, leading breeders and

stars on the track must find their way to the eyes of

readers. Chronicling Florida’s Thoroughbred in-

dustry, capturing its importance and beauty and

sharing it must play a role in the industry’s future.

As the global economic downturn continues to

impact our business, advertising has significantly

decreased this past year. Reflecting that slide, we

will combine the April and May issues of The

Florida Horse into one issue. As breeding season

winds down, we will follow the combined

April/May issue with our annual Farm & Service

Directory in June.

While we are dedicated to offering our mem-

bers, readers and advertisers cover-to-cover quality

in each issue, we are also focusing these days on a

future publishing schedule tailored to the present

needs of our advertising clients. During this time,

our team will continue to explore additional av-

enues of disseminating content to FTBOA mem-

bers and loyal readers of our publications, as well

as enhancing the effectiveness of our website and

electronic communications.

Ever-changing technological advances are cer-

tainly altering the Thoroughbred industry at almost

every level. It has changedourbusiness inmanyways.

It is also transforming the way we deliver words and

pictures and how we communicate with one another.

In the publishing business, we are embracing

technology to expand our scope and reach through

a multi-channel delivery system in sharing our ar-

ticles, your stories.

In attracting new visibility for our client’s prod-

ucts and services, we aim to strengthen our pres-

ence on the internet to better benefit FTBOA

members while complementing our existing print

products and use of traditional media to inform and

educate industry enthusiasts about the benefits of

being involved in Florida’sThoroughbred industry.

Enjoy the March issue.


editor’s welcome

Michael Compton/JOE DIORIO PHOTO

BridgingTheGap

In attracting new

visibility for our client’s

products and services,

we aim to strengthen

our presence on the

internet to better benefit

FTBOA members

EditorsWelcome.qx:EditorWelcome 3/5/10 9:46 AM Page 6


BY NICK FORTUNA

After a strong 2009 campaign in which

he won four stakes races and earned $1.52

million, Presious Passion had earned a rest,

and he needed one. The Florida-bred geld-

ing closed out 2009 in December with a

disappointing fifth-place finish as the

heavy favorite in Calder’s W.L. McKnight

Handicap (G2), a race he had won in each

of the previous two years.

Two months later, Presious Passion re-

turned to the track looking fresh. The 7-year-

old son of RoyalAnthemwired the $150,000

Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream

Park on Feb. 28, winning by 1¼ lengths over

Winchester. Trainer Mary Hartmann said the

plan was to use the Mac Diarmida as a tune-

up for the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic,

a 1½-mile turf race at Meydan Race Course

on March 27.

“We were concerned earlier in the day

that the course might be less than firm, but

we decided to go ahead and run, and that it

would be better looking ahead to Dubai to

have a race than not, although we planned

to go anyhow and train him up to that race

if necessary,” Hartmann said. “He only had

the one workout since his last race, but as

they get older, they don’t need to do as

much. It’s become his pattern. We’re ready


Presious Passion Repeats in

BY NICK FORTUNA

After D’ Funnybone’s last-place per-

formance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

(G1) at Santa Anita in November, trainer

Rick Dutrow Jr. never lowered his expecta-

tions for the Florida-bred colt. On Feb. 20,

D’Funnybone rewarded Dutrow for his con-

fidence in him by winning the $150,000

Hutcheson Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

It was the third graded stakes win for D’

Funnybone, a son ofVinery stallion D’wild-

cat bred by Ocala’s Harold J. Plumley. D’

Funnybone became a budding star sprinting

on dirt last year, earning Grade 2 victories

in the Saratoga Special and the Belmont Fu-

turity. But when trying a synthetic surface

for the first time and stretching out to 11⁄16

miles for the BC Juvenile, he never looked

his best, finishing 27½ lengths behind the

winner, Vale ofYork.

In his return to a dirt track in the Hutch-

eson, D’ Funnybone once again looked like

a Triple Crown contender, winning by a

length over A Little Warm, with Ibboyee a

length farther back in third. D’ Funnybone

sat comfortably in third place outside of

Florida-bred pacesetter Wildcat Frankie,

who faded to sixth place after leading the

field through a quarter-mile in 22.37 sec-

onds and a half-mile in 45.10 seconds.

With usual rider Edgar Prado aboard for

his 3-year-old debut, D’ Funnybone moved

up three wide to challenge on the turn, got

to the top of the lane with a one-length ad-

vantage and preserved his lead down the

stretch. He finished the seven-furlong test

in 1:22.14.

After the race, Dutrow compared D’

Funnybone to Florida-bred Benny the Bull,

aVinery stallion who won an EclipseAward

as the nation’s top sprinter in 2008. Despite

that comparison, Dutrow said D’ Funny-

bone might be able to handle longer dis-

tances and said the colt might run in the

$750,000 Florida Derby (G1), a nine-fur-

long test for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park

on March 20.

“I’m happy to get him back and run so

well off the layoff,” Dutrow said. “He’s our

next little Benny the Bull. He’s a lot like him

except for his color. We’ll definitely con-

sider the Florida Derby. At this point, I’m

not ready to concede that his race in the

Breeders’ Cup was attributable to the dis-

tance but rather the track. I don’t think it was

as bad as it may have looked because Edgar

did the right thing and didn’t push on him

after a certain point.

“Like any 3-year-old at this time of the

year, you think about the (Kentucky) Derby,

so unless something develops to change my

mind, the Florida Derby is likely where he’ll

go next.”

“He was training very steady for this

race, and we were very confident going in,”

Prado said. “He broke good, and I was al-

ways very comfortable. We had a nice out-

side post, so he was in a good attacking

position down the backside, and it was just

a matter of turning him loose in the stretch.

And when I did, he just took off.”

D’ Funnybone Gets Back on Track

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Florida-bred Dʼ Funnybone

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to go now if everything goes all right.”

As is his style, Presious Passion was the

quickest out of the gate in the field of seven

older horses for the Mac Diarmida, which

covered 13⁄8 miles on a Gulfstream turf

course labeled “good.” Presious Passion

covered a quarter of a mile in 23.72 seconds

and a half-mile in 47.46 seconds while

opening up a seven-length lead.

Winchester, who had run in third place

throughout, moved up around the final turn

and got to within 2½ lengths of the leader at

the top of the lane, but Presious Passion was

able to hold him off and finish in 2:13.49.

“Everything went very nice today,”

said winning rider Elvis Trujillo. “The

horse broke sharp and was very relaxed,

and that was very good for the horse.

Every time he goes right to the lead, and

you just hope things go easy. Then at the

three-eighths, you put him in the bit, and

he just goes on. (The turf) was perfect

today. There were no problems.”

“My horse ran a good race,” jockey

Allen Garcia said of Winchester. “I

thought the winner might get pressed a lit-

tle harder, and the course was actually a lit-

tle firm.”

Last year, Presious Passion captured the

Mac Diarmida by half a length over Quasi-

cobra and went on to win the $200,000

Monmouth Stakes, the United Nations

Stakes (G1) for the second straight year

and the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial

Turf Championship Stakes (G1). He also

finished second in the Breeders’ Cup

Turf (G1) at Santa Anita, losing by half a

length to defending champion Conduit

after setting the pace.

Presious Passion, bred by Joseph and

Helen Barbazon at PleasantAcres Farm in

Morriston, has won 14 of his 44 starts for

$2.66 million. He’s owned by Patricia

Generazio.


Mac Diarmida

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Florida-bred Presious Passion



By NICK FORTUNA

Bim Bam might be the only horse with

almost $300,000 in earnings and three

stakes victories who has never been fa-

vored by the betting public, but if he con-

tinues to run with the heart he displayed

Feb. 7, racing fans surely will start paying

him more respect.

Bim Bam prevailed by a nose in the

$125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes at

Gulfstream Park after dueling with 4-5 fa-

vorite Interactif for the length of the

stretch. Bim Bam had led the whole way

in the 1 1/16-mile turf race before Interac-

tif stuck his head in front at the sixteenth

pole. Bim Bam refused to fold in the final

yards, however, rallying to edge his rival at

the wire.

With usual rider Eibar Coa aboard, Bim

Bam found himself leading the way early

in the Hallandale Beach for the first time

in his nine-race career. The son of Deputy

Wild Cat set modest fractions of 24.60 sec-

onds for a quarter-mile and 49.91 seconds

for a half-mile, with Interactif half a length

behind in second place.

Bim Bam led by a head at the top of the

stretch, with Interactif and jockey Kent

Desormeaux on their outside, seemingly

ready to surge past him. But in the end it

was Bim Bam who stopped the clock in

1:42.07 for his fourth career win.

“My plan was to sit right behind the

speed, but when they let me go, I was able

to make the lead and then go that slow,”

Coa said. “And I know my horse is a

fighter, and he doesn’t like to let horses go

by. I knew if they challenged him, he was

going to fight back. When the other horse

went by, I knew my horse was going to try,

so I kept riding and digging because I

knew he could come back, and he did.”

Coa had confidence in Bim Bam be-

cause the horse has never run a bad race,

having finished in the money in all nine of

his starts. Bim Bammade his first six starts

on dirt at Calder Race Course last year,

winning the $75,000 Foolish Pleasure

Stakes and finishing third behind highly re-

garded Florida-bred Jackson Bend in all

three legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

Trainer David Brownlee then tried

Bim Bam on turf, and the horse has re-

sponded with three strong efforts. The

colt won the $100,000 Arthur Appleton

Juvenile Turf in November and finished

second to Nordic Truce in the $100,000

Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in

January. Just like the Hallandale Beach,

the Dania Beach featured a thrilling

stretch battle, as Bim Bam lost a lead late

and finished a neck behind the winner.

“We know he’ll fight back, like he did

the last time,” Brownlee said after the win.

Interactif was favored

based on his Grade 3 vic-

tories going 1 1/16 miles

on turf in the With Antic-

ipation Stakes at Saratoga

in September and the

Bourbon Stakes at

Keeneland in October, as

well as his third-place

finish behind Pounced in

the Breeders’ Cup Juve-

nile Turf (G2) at Santa

Anita in November. Des-

ormeaux said he was sur-

prised his horse was

Bim BamBy a Nose

Florida-bred Bim Bam (inside)

Tiznow Colt Sells for$475,000 at OBS

Hip No. 29, a colt by Tiznow consigned by Bo Hunt,agent, went to Chuck and Maribeth Sandford and part-ners for $475,000 to top the OBS February sale of se-lected 2-year-olds in training Feb. 16. The dark bay orbrown colt, who worked an eighth of a mile in 10 1/5seconds at the Feb. 12 under-tack show at OBS, is out ofthe stakes-placed Six Pack Sally, by Tale of the Cat.Hip No. 106, a colt by Yes It’s True consigned by

W.D. North Thoroughbreds, agent, was sold to Amy E.Tarrant/Hardacre Farm for $425,000. The chestnutcolt is out of Debit Or Credit, by Cat Thief, a half-sis-ter to graded stakes winner Alke. He worked a quar-ter of a mile in 21 seconds flat at the under-tackshow, tying for the fastest work at the distance.

Let’s Go Stables wentto $400,000 for hip No. 84,a Florida-bred Harlan’s Hol-iday filly consigned byOcala Stud. Out of stakeswinner Burn Brightly, byAmerican Chance, the darkbay or brown filly, who alsobreezed a quarter in 21 flat,is a half-sister to stakeswinner Dream of Angels.

Tarrant also purchased hip No. 52, a Rockport Harborfilly consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent. Thegray or roan filly, who worked a quarter in 21 4/5, is outof the stakes-placed Truart, by Yes It’s True.For the session, 66 horses grossed $6.41 million,

compared with 93 horses bringing $9.87 million at lastyear’s February sale. The average price was $97,182,compared with $106,115 in 2009, while the medianprice was $66,000, compared with $90,000 a year ago.The buyback percentage was 38.9 percent; it was 39.6percent in 2009.Next on the OBS agenda is the March sale of se-

lected 2-year-olds in training on March 16-17. For in-formation about OBS, please visit www.obssales.com,e-mail [email protected] or call (352) 237-2154.

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second best Sunday.

“Was it the trip I wanted? Yes, it went very

well,” he said. “But I’m shocked. I didn’t think

I could get beat from the quarter-pole.”

Bim Bam is a homebred for Jim DiMare,

who races under the J D Farms name and owns

Rising Hill Farm in Reddick along with this

wife, Sheila. The $75,000 winner’s check for

the Hallandale Beach boosted his earnings to

$296,295.




BY NICK FORTUNA

Amen Hallelujah left little doubt whether

she could handle running on a conventional

dirt surface, cruising to a 6 ¼-length triumph

in the $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulf-

stream Park on Feb. 27 for her second con-

secutive Grade 2 score.

The daughter of Ocala Stud Farm stallion

Montbrook entered the race off a win in the

seven-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa

Anita Park in January. She made the first

seven starts of her career on synthetic sur-

faces, but trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said he

thought a surface switch wouldn’t pose a

problem for his talented, 3-year-old filly.

“I brought her back fromCalifornia just to

run in this race,” he said. “I’ve always thought

she’d be better on dirt. She trains better on dirt

than the synthetic. I really haven’t thought

about what might be next.”

Amen Hallelujah, breaking from the rail

with Julien Leparoux aboard for the first time,

ran in second place early in the Davona Dale

behind the favored Bickersons, who led the

field through a quarter-mile in 24.49 seconds

and a half-mile in 47.54.As Bickersons began

to tire, Amen Hallelujah took command, get-

ting to the top of the lane with a four-length

advantage and widening the gap down the

stretch.

Amen Hallelujah finished the one-mile

test on a fast track in 1:37.16. Florida-bred

Joanie’s Catch, who had stalked in third place

most of the way, finished as the runner-up for

the fourth straight race, a head in front of

Mambo Fever, while Bickersons was fourth.

“It was a good race for her,” Leparoux

said ofAmen Hallelujah. “She ran very nice

and easy today, and she went well over the

track. That other filly (Bickersons) is a nice

filly, and my filly went up to her real easy

and kept going. It was a little tough to be

down on the inside today, and I wanted to

be (close to the pace).”

Amen Hallelujah, bred by Thorobeam

Farm, is owned by IEAH Stables and

Whizway Farms and was a $40,000 purchase

at Keeneland’s sale of yearlings in Septem-

ber 2008. She’s won four of her eight starts

for $312,370. Amen Hallelujah is out of the

Concorde’s Tune mare Sara’s Success. Con-

corde’s Tune, like Montbrook, stands at

Ocala Stud Farm.

Amen Hallelujah has hit the board in

seven straight races since a fifth-place debut

at Arlington Park last summer. Prior to get-

ting her first stakes win in the Santa Ynez,

she finished third in a pair of Grade 1 races

behind two of last year’s top juvenile fillies,

losing to Negligee in the Alcibiades Stakes

at Keeneland in October and Blind Luck in

the Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park

in December.

Amen Hallelujah DominatesDavona Dale at Gulfstream

Florida-bred Amen Hallelujah

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BY NICK FORTUNA

If the $200,000 Strub Stakes (G2) at

Santa Anita Park had been run a week ear-

lier on Feb. 6 as originally scheduled, then

Florida-bred Jeranimo never would have

made it into the field. But a rainstorm

postponed the race, giving him a much-

needed week to prepare and allowing him

to earn the biggest win of his career.

Jeranimo rallied to beat 7-10 favorite

Misremembered by 1¼ lengths in the Strub

for his first stakes victory. The

4-year-old son of Congaree was

running on short rest after fin-

ishing a close-up fourth behind

Bold Chieftain in the Sunshine

Millions Classic at SantaAnita on

Jan. 30 and would have had to

skip the Strub had it been run on

its original date.

“We skipped this race (Feb. 6)

because it was coming back on

seven days’ rest, so we decided

to take a shot today when it

rained out,” winning trainer

Mike Pender said. “The weath-

erman was our best friend.

“The horse just found a perfect little spot

down on the rail. He was saving ground, and

I thought tomyself, ‘Oh no, here we go again,’

because he has been victimized countless

times by poor racing luck. Today, the seam

opened, he just followed Misremembered

right through the turn and cut on the inside of

him.The race just fell into his lap for a change

on his biggest day.”

Jeranimo, bred at Brylynn Farm in Red-

dick, is owned by B.J. Wright and was a

$70,000 purchase at Barretts in May 2008.

The colt has won three of his 11 starts for

$264,600. The horse entered the Strub with

an 0-for-4 mark in stakes races, with his best

finish being a third-place effort behind Pio-

neerof the Nile in the San Felipe Stakes (G2)

at SantaAnita last March.

In the Strub, Jeranimo ran in sixth place

early as eventual last-place finisher Heavenly

Wind carved out fractions of 24.22 seconds

for a quarter-mile and 48.23 for a half-mile.

Misremembered, the runner-up in theMalibu

Stakes (G1) in December at Santa Anita, ran

just off the pace in third place.

With Martin Garcia aboard him for the

first time, Jeranimo moved up to third place

at the top of the stretch and split foes while

launching his bid, gaining the lead with half

a furlong to go and edging clear. His final

time for the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track was

1:47.83.

“I didn’t know a thing about this horse

until this morning,” Garcia said. “I went by

the barn, andMike said he had a little trouble

last time, but he’s got a lot of heart and to just

ride him with confidence. I got him covered

up early, and he relaxed real well. At the top

of the stretch, a hole opened up, and he kicked

on really strong.”

Jeranimo Scores First StakesWin in Strub at Santa Anita

Florida-bred Jeranimo

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D’ Funnybone rewarded trainer

Rick Dutrow Jr. for his confidence in

him by winning the $150,000 Hutch-

eson Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

It was the third graded stakes win

for D’ Funnybone, a son of Vinery

stallion D’wildcat bred by Ocala’s

Harold J. Plumley.

D’ Funnybone became a

budding star sprinting on dirt last

year, earning Grade 2 victories

in the Saratoga Special and

the Belmont Futurity.

In his return to a dirt track

Saturday, D’ Funnybone once again

looked like a Triple Crown contender,

winning by a length over A Little

Warm, with Ibboyee a length

farther back in third.


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Presious Passion is the kind of horse that could

make anyone get passionate about Thorough-

bred racing. The 6-year-old gelding, who had

posted an outstanding 2008 season, came back in

2009 to prove that had been no fluke.

In but nine starts, Presious Passion scored vic-

tories in the United Nations Stakes (G1),

Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Classic (G1),

Mac Diarmida Stakes (G3) and Monmouth

Stakes. In addition, he was second in the Breed-

ers' Cup Turf (G1). Pan American Stakes (G3)

and Sunshine Millions Turf. In winning the


By JOANN GUIDRY

In the Thoroughbred industry, an outstanding

racehorse takes everyone along for a great

ride. Such was the case with Presious Passion

and his connections. Not only was Presious Pas-

sion named the 2009 Florida-bred Horse of the

Year, but he earned year-end accolades for his

breeder and owner as well.

At the 50th annual FTBOA Awards Dinner on

March 15 at the Ocala Hilton, Joseph and Helen

Barbazon were honored as Florida Breeder of the

Year. The Barbazons bred, trained and sold Pre-

sious Passion. In addition, the Barbazons also own

Florida Broodmare of theYear Princesa's Passion,

the dam of Presious Passion. Patricia Generazio,

who bought Presious Passion privately as a year-

ling from the Barbazons, garnered the title of the

leading Florida Owner by Florida-bred earnings.

Ocala Stud-based Montbrook won his second

consecutive Florida Stallion of the Year award.

Wildcat Heir, who stands at Journeyman Stud,

claimed both the Florida Juvenile and Freshman

sire titles.

Beth Bayer collected the Joe O'Farrell Memo-

rial Award as the original consignor of Macho

Again and Milan Kosanovich was singled out as

the outstanding small Florida Thoroughbred op-

eration with the Needles Award.

Many other awards, including those for the

breeders, owners and trainers of the 2009 Florida-

bred champions, were part of the night's celebration.

The 50th annual FTBOA Awards Dinner shines thespotlight on the Florida Thoroughbred industry's

best of the best in 2009.

Bestof the

2009 FLORIDA-BREDHORSE OF THE YEAR

Presious Passion2003 chestnut gelding by Royal Anthem – Princesa's Passion, by Marquetry

Breeders:Joseph & Helen Barbazon

Owner:Patricia Generazio

Trainer:Mary Hartmann EL

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United Nations Stakes (G1) for the second consecu-

tive time, Presious Passion also set a course record

time of 2:10.97 for the 11 furlongs.

Bred by Joseph and Helen Barbazon, Presious Pas-

sion earned $1,524,275 for owner Patricia Generazio. In

addition to collecting the Florida-bred Horse of theYear

title, the Mary Hartmann-trainee was also named the

Florida-bred champion older male and Florida-bred

champion turf horse.

2009 FLORIDA BREEDER OF THE YEARJoseph & Helen Barbazon

Joe and Helen Barbazon, who bred 2009 Florida-bred Horse of the Year Presious Passion, garnered

the Florida Breeder of the Year title. The Barbazons,

who were also represented on the season by Florida-

bred stakes winners Fleet Valid and Becky's Ex-

change, recorded Florida-bred earnings of $2,031,012.

In addition, the Barbazons also own 2009 Florida

Broodmare of the Year Princesa's Passion. The Mar-

quetry mare is the dam of multiple Grade I stakes-

winning millionaire Presious Passion. In 2008, the

Barbazons earned the NeedlesAward as the outstand-

ing small Florida Thoroughbred operation. Their 220-

acre PleasantAcres Farm is located just outside Ocala

in Morriston.

The Barbazons have been basking in Presious Pas-

sion's racing success for the past two seasons. In 2008,

the Royal Anthem gelding won three graded stakes,

became a millionaire and was named the Florida-bred

champion turf horse. And yet, even more success was

to come. In 2009, Presious Passion won four stakes,

including three graded, set a course record and added

$1.5 million to his bankroll. That led to him being

named the 2009 Florida-bred Horse of theYear, cham-

pion older male and champion turf horse.

After a season-opening runner-up finish to fellow

Florida-bred Soldier's Dancer in the Sunshine Mil-

lionsTurf, Presious Passion wonMac Diarmida Stakes

(G3) at Gulfstream Park.Winning time for the 11 fur-

longs over a firm course was 2:12.10. Then given a

three-month break by trainer Mary Hartmann, Pre-

sious Passion would come back to win the Monmouth

Stakes for owner Patricia Generazio. The latter and

her husband Frank Generazio are longtime clients of

the Barbazons and purchased Presious Passion pri-

vately as a yearling.

On the Fourth of July, Presious Passion posted his

second consecutive United Nations Stakes (G1) vic-

tory. He won by two lengths in course-setting time of

2:10.97 for the 11 furlongs. Presious Passion tallied

his second Grade I win on the season at Santa Anita,

capturing the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf

Championship Stakes (G1) on October 11. He won by

two and a half lengths in 1:59.13 for the 10 furlongs.

Presious Passion wrapped up his outstanding sea-

son with an exciting and memorable effort in the

Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) on November 7 at Santa

Anita. He led by as many as 10 lengths, set fractions

of :23.08, :45.14, 1:09.24, 1:34.56 and 1:59.72 before

being overtaken by Conduit (Ire) in deep stretch. Con-

duit (Ire), who also won the 2008 BC Turf, posted a

half-length victory over Presious Passion.

In nine starts in 2009, Presious Passion posted

four wins and three seconds to earn $1,524,275.

Over five seasons of racing to date, he has banked

$2,576,293.

Fleet Valid, a 2003 gelding by Montbrook out of

the Valid Appeal mare Di's Song, won the Icecapade

Stakes andTeddy Drone Stakes. Owned by Shillelagh

Racing Stables, he was also third in the Francis J. De

Francis Memorial Dash (G1) and earned $204,100 on

the season.

Becky's Exchange, a 3-year-old filly by Exchange

Rate out of Expect Becky, byValid Expectations, won

the Desert Vixen Stakes. Also owned by Generazio,

Becky's Exchange banked seasonal earnings of

$99,260.


Joeseph andHelen Barbazon

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HonoringtheBest

50th annual FTBOA awardsMonday Evening – March 15, 2010The Hilton Ocala – Ocala, Florida

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’AND OWNERS’ASSOCIATION

WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORSBen Cambra Strategies

Bernie Little Distributing, LLCBoehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

Boyd Brothers Inc.Community Bank & Trust of FloridaCovert Appraisal Services, Inc.Duggan, Joiner & Company, PAEquine Medical Center of Ocala

Get Away FarmHartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds-Pro-Care Plus Hoof Conditioner

Hear No EvilJerry Parks Insurance Group

Journeyman Bloodstock Services Inc.Kinsman FarmLive Oak Stud

Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.Ocala Equine Hospital, PA

Ocala StudPeterson & Smith Equine Hospital LLC

Plumley FarmsSmith, Bryan and MyersStonehedge Farm SouthWildcat Heir PartnershipWinding Oaks Farm

SILVER SPONSORSCapital City ConsultingSeminole Feed

BRONZE SPONSORSAlarion BankAlltech

Calder Casino & Race CourseDerby Gold Pine Shavings, LLCExclusive Quality Syndicate

Lambholm SouthShowcase Properties of Central Florida Inc.

Suntrust BankTack Shack of OcalaU.S. Hay, Inc.

FTBOA.AwardsNEW.qx:Layout 1 3/1/10 9:06 AM Page 1

2009 FLORIDA STALLION OF THE YEARMontbrook1995 dark bay/brown colt by Buckarro –Secret Paper, by Jet Diplomacy

Montbrook claimed yet another title as Florida Stal-

lion of theYear, leading all resident Florida stal-

lions with progeny earnings of $3,781,209 in 2009.

Montbrook, who stands at Ocala Stud, was also the lead-

ing Florida sire in 2008, 2003 and 2002.

Montbrook was represented by seven stakes winners,

which won 11 stakes. Millionaire Big Drama headed the

stakes-winning class that also included Shadowdancing,

FleetValid, ExoticBloom,Chary,Oilgonewile andChrist-

mas Ship. Montbrook was also represented by stakes-

placed runners Amen Hallelujah, Lanzera, Good to Be

Seen,Miss Diane and Brooks 'n Down.AmenHallelujah,

who was third in a pair of Grade I races, was named the

2009 Florida-bred champion 2-year-old filly.

Big Drama, bred and raced by Harold Queen, won

the Red Legend Stakes. The 3-year-old

colt was also second in theWest Virginia

Derby (G2) and Swale Stakes (G2) on his

way to earning $358,500. Big Drama has

career earnings to date of $1,218,750.

Shadowdancingwon a trio of stakes and

was graded stakes-placed as well. The 4-

year-old colt won the Bonasera Stakes, Jim

RasmussenMemorial Stakes andWestVir-

giniaGovernor'sStakes.BredbyOcalaStud

and raced by RNB Racing LLC, Shadow-

dancing was also second in the Prairie

Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G2). He

banked $223,875 on the season.

FleetValid, bred by Joseph andHelen Barbazon, won

theTeddyDrone Stakes and Icecapade Stakes.The Shil-

lelagh Racing Stables colorbearer also posted a third in

the Frank J. De FrancisMemorial Dash (G1) on his way

to earning $204,100. Exotic Bloom won theWindward

Stakes and My Charmer Stakes while also finishing

third in the Seaway Stakes (G3-Can).

Chary won the Calder Oaks, Oilgonewile captured

the Sweetest Chant Stakes and Christmas Ship won the

Alameda County Fillies &Mares Handicap.

Florida-bredMontbrookwas bred byOcala Stud and

sold by his breeder for $250,000 at the 1992 Ocala

Breeders' Sales Company's February 2-year-olds in

training sale. The son of Buckaroo out of multiple

stakes-producer Secret Papers, by Jet Diplomacy, was a

graded stakes winner of $373,728. Purchased privately

at the end of his racing career, Montbrook entered stud

at Ocala Stud in 1995.

2009 FLORIDA BROODMAREOF THE YEARPrincesa’s Passion1999 chestnut mare by Marquetry – Sizzlin Sunshine,

by Sunshine Forever

Thanks to the racing exploits of Presious Passion,

Princesa's Passion was named the 2009 Florida

Broodmare of theYear.

Presious Passion, a 2003 chestnut gelding by Royal

Anthem, was one of the top turf runners in the coun-

try in 2009. He posted four stakes wins, including two

Grade I victories, and set a course record on his way

to earning $1.5 million on the season.

Bred by Joseph and Helen Barbazon, Presious Passion

won his second consecutive United Nations Stakes (G1) at

Monmouth Park and set a course record of 2:10.97 for the

11 furlongs. It was also the third course record Presious

Passionhasposted inhis career.Heencored thatwith avic-

tory in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Champi-

onship Stakes (G1) at SantaAnita.

OwnedbyPatriciaGenerazio and trained

by Mary Hartmann, Presious Passion also

scoredwins in theMacDiarmidaStakes (G3)

and Monmouth Stakes. In addition, he was

second in the Breeders' CupTurf (G1), Pan

American Stakes (G3) and Sunshine Mil-

lions Turf Stakes. On the season, Presious

Passion earned $1,524,275 and has a career

bankroll to date of $2,576,293.

Presious Passion was named the 2009

Florida-bred Horse of theYear, champion

older male and champion turf horse.

Montbrook (above)and Presious Passion

(bottom)


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NOMINATED TOFlorida Stallion Stakes

� 899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 � (352) 237-3834 � Fax: (352)237-6069� www.doublediamondfarm.com

A l s o s t a n d i n g : A M E R I C A N S P I R I T � � S A R A V A � � W E K I V A S P R I N G S

Kingmambo—Commodit ies , by Pr ivate Account

Impeccably bred,Rey de Café is by sire of champions Kingmambo, out of a stellar

female family that includes perennial leading sire Seeking the Gold.

Rey de Café won sprinting and routing on both dirt and turf,suggesting his offspring will relish today’s synthetic surfaces.

Pedigree, Performance, Conformation

First foals are 2 this year!Watch for them at the races.

SE

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REYDECAFÉ

DD.Jan.08.2010.ReyDeCafe.qx:Ad 1/29/10 11:34 AM Page 1

2009 LEADING FLORIDAJUVENILE & FRESHMAN SIREWildcat Heir2000 bay colt by Forest Wildcat – Penniless Heiress, by Pentelicus

Wildcat Heir swept both titles of 2009 leading

Florida juvenile and freshman sire with progeny

earnings of $1,169,439. He was represented by two

stakes winners and one stakes-placed runner in 39 win-

ners. The latter mark set a new Northern Hemisphere

record formost juvenilewinners by a stallion in a season.

Leading money earner forWildcat Heir was stakes

winner Karmageddon, who earned $73,130. The 2-

year-old filly out of Kismet, by Kissin Kris, won the

New Jersey Juvenile Stakes to become Wildcat Heir

first career stakes winner.

Florida-bred Wild Mia, bred by Montgomery

Farm, won the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes

at Calder. Raced by Craig Wheeler, Wild Mia banked

$64,147 on the season. Stakes-placed Always Wild-

catin' was second in the Prairie Meadows Freshman

Stakes and third in the Colin Stakes to earn $67,380.

Bred in Florida by New Farm, Wildcat Heir was a

Grade I stakeswinner of $424,460.Hewon theFrank J.De

Francis Memorial Dash (G1) and was second in the San-

ford Stakes (G2). Wildcat Heir also won the Icecapade

Stakes and Teddy Drone Stakes. Out of multiple graded

stakes-producer Penniless Heiress, by Pentelicus,Wildcat

Heir is a full brother to graded stakeswinnerForestHeiress

and stakeswinnerForestHeir.WildcatHeir stands as prop-

erty of Taylor Made/WinStar Venture and New Farm at

Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud.

2009 LEADING FLORIDA TRAINEROF FLORIDA-BREDS-By Earnings & Stakes Wins (Tie)

Martin D. Wolfson

MartinD.Wolfson trained Florida-breds to earnings

of $1,806,093 and six stakes wins at Florida race-

tracks in 2009. The six stakes wins also tied him with

trainer Stanley I. Gold.

Wolfson trained six Florida-

bred stakes winners which won

two stakes at Gulfstream Park

and four atCalderRaceCourse.

Among those six stakeswinners

wereFlorida-bredgraded stakes

winnersFrolic'sDreamandIt's a

Bird. At Gulfstream Park,

Frolic'sDreamwon theForward

GalStakes (G3)Parkwhile It's a

Bird captured theOBSSunshineMillionsClassic.Outside

ofFlorida, It's aBird alsowon theOaklawnHandicap (G3)

and Lone Star Handicap (G3) on the season.

AtCalder,YouLuckieMannwon theUnbridledStakes,

Misty Oak captured the Donthelumbertrader Stakes, Rate

of Exchange scored in the ConnieAnn Stakes and Jessica

Is Back posted a win in the Nancy's Glitter Handicap.

2009 LEADING FLORIDA TRAINEROF FLORIDA-BREDS-By Stakes Wins (Tie)

Stanley Gold

Stanley I. Gold trained Florida-bred stakes winners

Jackson Bend, Garter Belt and HearYe HearYe to

six stakes wins at Florida racetracks in 2009. The six

stakes wins tied him with trainer Martin D. Wolfson.

Gold trained Florida-bred Jackson Bend to a sweep

of the Florida Stallion Stakes Series. Jackson Bend, a

homebred runner for Fred and Jane Brei's Jacks Or

Better Farm, became the seventh juvenile colt to sweep

the FSS in its 28-year history. By Hear No Evil out of

the Tabasco Cat mare Sexy Stockings, Jackson Bend

won the Dr. Fager Stakes, Affirmed Stakes and In Re-

ality Stakes to record the his-

toric FSS sweep at Calder.

Jackson Bend also won the

Frank Gomez Memorial

Stakes at Calder.

Jacks Or Better Farm

homebredsGarterBeltwon the

Regal Gal Stakes and HearYe

HearYe captured the Jack Price

Juvenile Stakes at Calder.


Wildcat Heir (above),Martin Wolfson(top left) andStanley Gold

(bottom)

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By MICHAEL COMPTON

Award recipients at this year’s FloridaThoroughbred Breed-

ers’ and Owners’Association annual awards ceremony will

receive handsome bronze sculptures created by Nina

Kaiser and Lisa Perry. Both artists bring a natural passion and feel

for theThoroughbred to their work that will be shared with Florida’s

award winners during the 50th anniversary dinner March 15.

Kaiser, who grew up in Northern California and resides near Del

Mar racetrack, made headlines last year with the unveiling of her life-

size sculpture of the great John Henry. The bronze rendering was un-

veiled Dec. 26, 2009 coinciding with the opening of the 75th

anniversary season of SantaAnita.

“Nina did a wonderful job,” said

John Henry’s longtime trainer Ron

McAnally, “it looks just like him.”

In addition to her commissioned

work for the FTBOA, she designs and

creates trophies for Santa Anita,

Golden Gate Fields and the California

Thoroughbred BreedersAssociation.

For more information on Nina Kaiser, visit

www.equinesculpture.com.

Perry has made trophies for the American Quarter Horse Associ-

ation, as well as Lone Star Park, where her sculpture of Alysheba

stands. Her work can also be viewed in the Kentucky DerbyMuseum

at Churchill Downs.

For more information on Lisa Perry,

visit www.lisaperry.com.

Honoring Champions

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2009 LEADING FLORIDA TRAINEROF FLORIDA-BREDS -By Wins

Kathleen O'Connell

Kathleen O'Connell trained Florida-breds to 75

wins at Florida racetracks in 2009.

Among O'Connell's charges was Florida-bred

stakes winner Wave Me By. The Gilbert G. Campbell

homebred won the Seacliff Stakes at Calder Race

Course. By Untuttable out of Traffic Jammer, by The-

atrical (Ire), Wave Me By posted two wins and one

third in seven starts to bank $74,800.

2009 NEEDLES AWARDMilan Kosanovich

TheNeedlesAwardwas established by the FTBOA to

honor Florida breeders who own small Thorough-

bred operations and havemade outstanding contributions

to the FloridaThoroughbred industry.The 2009 recipient

of the Needles Award was Milan Kosanovich, whose

Florida-breds earned $1,615,927 on the season.

Kosanovich's 16 starters recorded 18 wins, 27 seconds

and 21 thirds.As a breeder, Kosanovich was represented

by four 2009 Florida-bred stakes winners, including

graded stakes winners MachoAgain and Be Fair.

MachoAgain won the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1)

and New Orleans Handicap (G2) while finishing sec-

ond in both theWhitney Handicap (G1) andWoodward

Stakes (G1). A 2006 gray/roan colt by Macho Uno out

of the deceasedWildAgainmare GoDonnaGo,Macho

Again earned $1,040,734 on the year.

Be Fair, a 2006 bay filly by Exchange Rate and also

out of the deceased Go Donna Go, captured the Lake

George Stakes (G3) to bank $210,413. Kosanovich was

also represented byFlorida-bred stakeswinners IzzyRules

and Pray For Action. Izzy Rules won the Juan Gonzalez

Memorial Stakes andwas third in theArizona Juvenile Fil-

lies for earnings of $47,782. PrayForActionwon theDar-

ley Ocala Breeders' Sale Sprint to bank $45,800.

Kosanovich, a former Pennsylvania steel executive,

owns 40-acre Broken Back Farm in Ocala.

2009 JOE O'FARRELLMEMORIAL AWARDConsignor: Beth Bayer, agentHorse:Macho Again

The Joe O'Farrell Memorial Award is presented an-

nually by theOcala Breeders' Sales Company to the

original consignor of the year's best Florida-bred race-

horse offered at a public auction in Florida.

The 2009 Joe O'FarrellAward was presented to Beth

Bayer, agent, as the original consignor of Florida-bred

Grade I winner MachoAgain.

Bayer consignedMachoAgain

to the 2006 OBSAugust year-

ling sale, where the Macho

Uno colt was purchased for

$85,000 by Crupi's New Cas-

tle Farm. The latter then con-

signed the colt to the 2007

OBS February juvenile sale,

where he was purchased for

$150,000 byWest Point Thor-

oughbreds.

In 2009, Macho Again won the Stephen H. Foster

Handicap (G1) and the NewOrleans Handicap (G2). He

also finished second in theWhitney Handicap (G1) and

Woodward Stakes (G1), by a head in the latter to 2009

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexander. Bred by Milan

Kosanovich and raced by West Point Thoroughbreds,

MachoAgain earned $1,040,734 on the season.

2009 LEADING OWNER BYFLORIDA-BRED EARNINGSPatricia Generazio

Patricia Generazio led all owners by Florida-bredearnings with $2,112,685. Her leading earner was

Florida-bred multiple Grade I stakes winner Presious

Passion, who in 2009 banked $1,524,275.

Presious Passion won the Clement L. Hirsch Me-

morial Turf Championship Stakes (G1), United Na-

tions Stakes (G1), Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) and

Monmouth Stakes. He was

also second in the Breeders'

Cup Turf (G1), Pan Ameri-

can Stakes (G3) and Sun-

shine Millions Turf Stakes.

For his stellar season, Pre-

sious Passion was named

the 2009 Florida-bred

Horse of the Year, cham-

pion older male and cham-

pion turf horse.

By Royal Anthem out of the Marquetry mare

Princesa's Passion, Presious Passion was bred by Joseph

and Helen Barbazon. A longtime client of the Bar-

bazons, Generazio purchased Presious Passion privately

as a yearling.�

Clockwise from above;Kathleen OʼConnell,

Beth Bayer,Patricia Generazio,

and Milan Kosanovich

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the Best State for Business

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BusinessClimate.C.34706.qx:Layout 1 8/18/09 3:54 PM Page 2

By JO ANN GUIDRY

EddieWoods was the 2009NorthAmerican lead-

ing juvenile consignor by total sales with 68

horses sold for $8,061,500. Woods, who also

sold the highest-priced juvenile for the year, led a sweep

of the top 10 spots by Florida-based operations.

Woods, as agent for theAllenPaulsonLivingTrust, sold

Take Control for $1.9 million at the 2009 KeenelandApril

juvenile sale.Thechestnut colt byA.P. Indywas the first foal

out of 2002 Horse of theYear Azeri, by Jade Hunter, and

wasnamedVallenzeri at the timeof the sale toKaleemShah.

In 2009, notable graduates of Woods’ sales/training

operation included graded stakes winners Life Is Sweet

andHaynesfield, aswell as stakeswinnerMaram.Woods

training graduate Life Is Sweet won the Breeders’ Cup

Ladies Classic (G1) for breeders/ownersMartin and Pam

Wygod. Graded stakes winner Maram, another training

graduate who won the 2008 Breeders’Cup Juvenile Fil-

lies Turf, won this past season’s John Hettinger Stakes.

Graded stakes winner Haynesfield, sold byWoods

for $20,000 to Vision Racing at the 2008 Keeneland

April juvenile sale, added to his resume with a win in

the Discovery Handicap (G3) and three other stakes

in 2009.

Other past outstanding

graduates from Woods’ 240-

acre training center include

Eclipse champions Big Brown,

Left Bank and Midnight Lute.

Here’s a quick look at sev-

eral other Ocala-based 2009

leading juvenile consignors

and their recent successful

graduates.

� WAVERTREE STABLES

Ciaran andAmyDunne’sWavertree Stables recorded

a second-place finish on the leading juvenile consignors

list with 59 horses sold for $7,846,500. Wavetree Sta-

bles sold two sales toppers that landed spots on the top

10 rankings of the highest-priced juveniles on the year.

At the Fasig-Tipton February 2-year-olds in training

sale, Wavertree Stables, agent for breeder/owner Jacks

Or Better Farm, sold a Florida-bred colt for $1.6 million

to John Ferguson Bloodstock. By Medaglia d’Oro out

of Bayou Plans, by Bayou Hebert, the nearly black colt

was named Cup o’ Joe at the time of the sale. Renamed

Al Zir and racing for Godolphin, the colt went on to fin-

ish third in the Racing Post Trophy (G1-Eng).

Wavertree Stables, agent, also sold the $625,000 sales


SLOA

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topper at the BarrettsMarch juvenile sale. HurricaneHal,

a colt by Tiznow out of Hurricane Judy, by Storm Cat,

was purchased by Jess Jackson’s Stonerstreet Stables.

In 2009, Wavertree Stables was represented by

sales/training stakes-winning graduates DevilMayCare,

Necessary Evil and Suni. Devil May Care, a $400,000

RNA at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton FloridaMarch sale, went

on to win the Frizette Stakes (G1) for Glencrest Farm.

Necessary Evil, who was a $270,000 RNA at the Bar-

retts March juvenile sale, won the Hollywood Juvenile

Championship Stakes (G3) and was second in the Sor-

rento Stakes (G3). The Harlan’s Holiday filly races for

Glencrest Farm and Dapple Stable.

Millionaire Suni, who is based in Japan, won the

2009 JBC Sprint and was stakes-placed three times on

the season. To date, Suni has earned $2.3 million.

� NIALL BRENNAN STABLES

The third-ranked juvenile consignor was Niall Bren-

nan Stables with 66 horses sold for $6,850,000.

The operation’s most successful 2009 sales graduate

was Grade I stakes winner Hot Dixie Chick. The filly

by Dixie Union out of Above Perfection, by In Excess

(Ire), sold for $435,000 to Grace Racing LLC at the

Fasig-Tipton FloridaMarch 2-year-olds in training sale.

Hot Dixie Chick won the Spinaway Stakes (G1) and

Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at Saratoga.

Niall Brennan Stables was also represented in 2009

by sales/training stakes-winning graduates Sara Louise,

Motavato andAge of Humor. Graded stakes winner Sara

Louise, who was sold for $550,000 to Eldon Farm

Equine at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Florida February juve-

nile sale, won the Top Flight

Handicap (G2).

Motavato won the Kenny

Noe Jr. Handicap (G3) and

Age of Humor scored a vic-

tory in the Busanda Stakes.

� LEPRECHAUN RACING

Mike and BrittMulligan’s

Leprechaun Racing was the

fourth-leading juvenile con-

signor with 52 horses sold for $5,988,000. Leprechaun

Racing sold two of the top 10 highest-priced juveniles

on the season in Cornerstone and Sensei.

Cornerstone, a colt byUnbridled’s Song out ofAmaz-

ingBuy, byHighYield, sold for $1.1million to John Fer-

gusonBloodstock at the Fasig-Tipton February sale.Also

at the same sale, Sensei, a colt by

Friends Lake out of Miss Cox’s

Hat, by Cox’s Ridge, sold for

$625,000 to Padua Stables and

Zayat Stables.

In 2009, Leprechaun Racing

sales/training graduateMunnings

recorded another stellar season.

The Speightstown colt won the

Woody Stephens Stakes (G2)

and Tom Fool Handicap (G2);

he was also third in the Haskell Invitational (G1), Vos-

burgh Stakes (G1) and King’s Bishop Stakes (G1). Lep-

rechaun Racing sold Munnings for $1.7 million at the

2008 Fasig-Tipton February Calder sale.

Leprechaun Racing was also represented by

sales/training graduates and 2009 stakes winners My

Time to Star and SouthernYankee.

� EISAMAN EQUINE SERVICES

Rounding out the top five

leading juvenile consignors

wasEisamanEquineServices,

owned and operated by Barry

and Shari Eisaman, with 73

horses sold for $4,937,700.

In 2009, Eisaman Equine

Services was represented by

seven graded stakes winners

which were sales/training

graduates. Included in that number were Grade I win-

ners Gozzip Girl, Hot Cha Cha and Icon Project.

Gozzip Girl won the American Oaks Invitational

Stakes (G1), Sands Point Stakes (G2) and Here-

comesthebride Stakes (G3). Hot Cha Cha captured

the Queen Elizabeth II Chal-

lenge Cup (G1), Pucker Up

Stakes (G3), Bourbonette

Oaks (G3) and was graded

stakes-placed three times.

Icon Project won the Per-

sonal Ensign Stakes (G1), New

York Stakes (G3) and was twice

graded stakes-placed on the sea-

son. Other 2009 Eisaman

Equine Services graded stakes-

winning graduates includedAd-

vice, Don’t Forget Gil, Rodman

andWestside Bernie.�

2009 Top 10Leading Juvenile Consignors

(By Total Sales)Consignor Total Sales

Eddie Woods . . . .$8,061,500Wavertree Stables . . . .$7,846,500

Niall Brennan Stables . . . .$6,850,000Leprechaun Racing . . . .$5,988,000

Eisaman Equine Services . . . .$4,937,700Nick de Meric . . . .$4,702,000

Jerry Bailey Sales . . . .$4,510,700Scanlon Training Center . . . .$4,024,000

Stephens Thoroughbreds . . . .$3,517,500Hartley/DeRenzo . . . .$3,439,000

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‘We’re inSix of Marion County’s

RoundtableOcalaStyle.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 2:43 PM Page 34


Edited By DEAN BLINKHORNTranscribed By KRISTINA KOLESA

We figured the best way to get the in-the-know answers was to gather ahand-picked group of Marion

County’s top equestrian and business leaderstogether and ask them a series of tough ques-tions face to face. In a brisk, 90-minute discus-sion in SKY’s well-appointed conference roomon a brisk winter midday, Editor-In-Chief DeanBlinkhorn and Florida Horse Editor-In-ChiefMike Compton hosted a unique forum wherethe camera was clicking and the tape wasrolling. Here’s what everyone had to say.

‘A LOT OF PEOPLE OWE MONEY’Dean: Let’s start with this year that’s just

come to a close, a very tough one for theThoroughbred industry. How was 2009 foreach of you?

Dick: If we had known what was going tohappen in 2007—when people say everythingbegan to happen—we would have slowed downa little bit. But like everybody else, we weren’taware that this was going to happen.

Mike O’Farrell:This is my third downturn,but it does seem different this time. In yearspast, the people that played in the horse busi-ness, the sport of kings, were not damaged dur-ing those downturns.This time around, wealthy

people have—for one reason or another—de-cided not to play any longer.

The other thing is how quickly it hit. In2008, OBS [Ocala Breeders’ Sales] actuallyhad record sales. Our two-year-old sales werestronger than they’ve ever been.A year later, ittanked.

Dean: That’s a good point. Did any ofyou feel like you could anticipate what wascoming?

Brent: I think people largely believed that itwas business as usual right up until BearStearns andAIG happened in September ’08 inthe middle of the biggest yearling sale in theworld. You could just see all the air go out ofthe balloon in a matter of 48 hours. They sell350 horses a day for about 14 days in a row, buteverybody just stopped.

Mike O’Farrell: The other thing is that anawful lot of people owe a significant amount ofmoney.That wasn’t the case in the ‘70s becausebanks didn’t loan on horses, per se.

Phil: We have a lot of people now that re-ally make a living in the horse industry.They’renot wealthy people; they’re day-to-day peoplewho have invested a lot of their time, efforts,and money like any other small business ownerinAmerica.With the horse business, there’s nota huge margin of profit, so when that profit getscut even further, it makes it tough.

for Lean Times’sat down with Ocala Style for an in-depth interview concerning the state ofMarion County’s ailing Thoroughbred industry.We discussed the alarmingfoaling numbers, local yearling sales, even statewide gambling initiatives.How will these issues affect our status as “The Horse Capital of theWorld?”Read on.

top equestrian and business leaders

Originally published inFeb. 2010 issue ofOcala Style magazine


Brent: In Kentucky, I would say the professional

horseman is more likely to be working for a wealthy in-

dustrialist.

Mike O’Farrell:Well through the ‘60s, thewealthypeo-

ple owned the farms and the peoplewhoknewhow to take

care of the horse worked for those people—the Phippses

andDuPonts of theworld. Starting in the ‘70s,more of the

hands-onhorsemenhavebecomeowners.That hasmadeus

a little more vulnerable to a downturn like we have now.

Dick:And there are more market breeders.

Mike O’Farrell: There again, through the ‘60s, the

vast majority of horses producedwould have never gone

through a horse sale.They were bred and raised to go to

the races.

Dick: If you’re not breeding for racing, your world

ends at the market if you don’t have the ability to go to

the racetrack financially. It’s very expensive.

‘OCALA’S IDENTITY IS TIED TO THEEQUINE INDUSTRY’

Mike Compton: We know the industry is struggling—

sales prices have declined significantly, the foal crop is

down significantly. Do you see our industry getting back

to where we were at its height? Or do you even think it’s

necessary to get back there to be successful?

Phil: When you have diminished supply, you’re al-

ways in a better situation when demand resurfaces.

Maybe I’m a naïve optimist, but the horse business has

all the ability to recover and flourish again.These down-

turns are not new.

Brent:Owning a race horse is something that people

want to do or wewould’ve been out of business 50 years

ago. But when you’re worried about meeting a mort-

gage, you’re probably not thinking toomuch about buy-

ing a racehorse or a new car or any other luxury item.

You’re probably looking at a two-year curve right

now. The entire economy’s going to take a couple more

years before it starts going the right way.

Dean: What can help the local horse industry re-

bound faster?

Mike O’Farrell: I don’t know whether it’s our indus-

try that’s failing us or whether it’s the competition—the

Lottery, the wagering on the Internet—but we’re defi-

nitely handling less at the track today. If you look atCalder

[Casino&RaceTrack inMiamiGardens], their handle is

probably 40 percentwhat it was 10 years ago.Our horses,

unfortunately, are onlyworthwhat they can earn.Weneed

to find a way to get people wagering at the track.

Part of the problem is the way themoney is wagered.

Now people can bet with their Blackberry, but our purse

structure gets no money from that.

Dean: So you’re not pushing for an iPhone app

anytime soon? [everyone laughs]

Dick: We have a Legislature that for the last decade

has ignored Indian casinos and online wagering. They

haven’t let us be competitive. We’re very fortunate to

have the Speaker [Larry Cretul] doing everything he can

right now. We’re not looking for subsidies; we’re look-

ing for a level playing field.

Dean: Jaye, how has the Thoroughbred industry’s

downturn affected the perception of Ocala, in terms of

what you do to market Ocala as a business opportunity?

Jaye: Brent said it best. Over the last 18 months, this

industry—like our small businesses, like our banks—has

had to readjust its business model. The horse industry is

no different. What Dick’s talking about is that they need

to understand that this is a multi-billion dollar economic

engine in our state economy. Just likewhat happenedwith

the steel industry in Pittsburgh, though, it’s vulnerable.

FTBOA, our breeders and owners, the Chamber, and


THEPARTICIPANTS:

(left to right)

Jaye Baillie—president/CEO,

Ocala/Marion CountyChamber of Commerce

Dean Blinkhorn—editor-in-chief, Ocala Style

Mike Compton—editor-in-chief,

The Florida Horse

LeanTimes

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the EDC need to push that message so we don’t wake up

one day and find that all of our horse farm operations

havemoved to other states because of the incentives and

because purses are higher (see sidebar).

Brent: A big part of Ocala’s identity is tied to the

equine industry. If we didn’t have it, it would impact a lot

more than just us personally. It would impact the real es-

tate values and the tourist marketing.

‘OUR HORSE PRICES WERE TOO HIGH’

Mike Compton: Brent, Journeyman Stud has been

as aggressive as any farm in the area in bringing new

stallions and new blood to our area. Judging by your

actions, you’re still very positive about Marion County.

What do you see down the road?

Brent: There are only two places in the world that

you have the facilities, the support, and the background

to do what I do—Lexington and here. That said, I think

we’re in for lean times.

Mike Compton: Mike, you’ve had the leading sire

for the last handful of years.What changes have you

seen at that level?

Mike O’Farrell:A couple of years ago, I felt that we

were headed for some tough times. Everyone was pay-

ing slower. I’ve always found that when people have

money, they’ll pay you, so that was telling.

I’m a seller, but I can tell you that our horse prices

were too high. In 2008, OBS had record sales, but we ac-

tually had fewer people at those sales doing the buying.

Brent:Concentrating on a smaller groupof horses, too.

Mike O’Farrell: I actually fly out tomorrow to look

at a stallion in the Northeast. Now that prices have come

down, I think things will pick back up and things will be

fine. Those of us who have survived this ordeal will be

better off.

Mike Compton:What have you seen from the mares’

perspective of the local horse industry?

Phil:We’ve certainly seen themare population drop.

Unfortunately, I think the mare numbers are the biggest

thing we’re seeing as far as what’s been impacted the

most in the Thoroughbred industry.

Nothing feeds an economy more than the horse in-

dustry—the casinos don’t and the lottery sure as heck

doesn’t. None of those industries, inmy opinion, deserve

the support that the horse industry does. It sells fence

boards, tractors, mowers, shoes—it sells everything.

Dean: You bring up a good point because the local

horse industry is our brand, but it’s also very invisible.

People drive past the farms, but don’t really know what

goes on. They don’t know the process...

Jaye: Or the size of the payrolls.

Dean: Right, they have no idea because they can’t

be in it or around it. If Kohls or Dillards were to pull out,

people would probably feel that more because they’ve

been to those places.

Phil: But people do realize the beauty that those

horse farms bring to this area. I think that’s something

that everybody needs to think about.

Mike O’Farrell:At our farm, we had over 150 peo-

ple employed, which is a good-sized business. If we

locked the gates and went out of business, there would-

n’t be anybody in Ocala that would say, “Ocala Stud’s

gone. Look at all the jobs we lost!” like you would with

any other big company.

Dean: I don’t know. Ocala Stud is one of our area’s

iconic farms. I think people might notice its closing.

Mike O’Farrell:The horse business isn’t going to go

away in Ocala. Unfortunately, I think it may contract

some. We’re probably going to have half as many foals

in 2011 as we had two years ago.

Mike Compton: Some 4,000 and change in ’07…

Brent:That’s going to put you back to 1998 levels.

Dean: Is that reversible?Ordoyouget toacertainpoint

with the foaling crop that it’s very hard to come out of that?

Mike O’Farrell: Unfortunately, that’s a hard ques-

tion to answer because an awful lot this time around is

going to be affected bywhat happens with the racetracks

and what happens with the Indian compact.All these is-

sues that are going to affect South Florida are going have

an effect here as to whether or not we bounce back.

Dick: What will happen is if this legislation comes

through and racing improves, people will move back

down here faster.

Mike Compton: I think what Mike said was key be-

cause everything here inMarionCounty is geared toward


“Get me back to my wife and kids! Please!I wanna live again.”—James Stewart (as George Bailey)

Just like George Bailey learns the true meaning of his life in the clas-sic Christmas film, what would Marion County look like if its equestrian andagricultural heritage never existed? Well...

• 3,500 farms wouldnʼt call our county home.• 266,000 acres would probably be the setting for other industries,many not as eco-friendly.• $173 million from agricultural product sales wouldnʼt have been spentlocally last year.• 72,000 daily travelers on I-75 would get a different image of MarionCounty.• Thousands of 4-H and FFA students wouldnʼt learn about these vitalindustries. Source: The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce

2009 Ag-Equine Committee Work Group Study

It’s Not Such a Wonderful Life


success at the racetrack. We have to get the purses up.

Brent: I think it’s largely a matter of perception. If

you’ve ever spent a winter chopping ice out of water

buckets, you have the perfect racing opportunity inOcala.

We don’t need to match what some other state does.

Mike O’Farrell: I would put Florida up against any

state, including Kentucky, as far as having the ability to

produce good-quality runners. That is what’s going to

keep people in the breeding business in Ocala.

‘LIKE A ROLLERCOASTER’

Dean: Competition is a very good point. Certainly

our readers know that we consider ourselves “The

Horse Capital of the World.” We did beat Lexington

to that distinction, correct?

Dick: Well, we have the trademark. [laughs]

Dean: How has Lexington fared during this period?

Brent: For the first time that I can remember, they’re

scared.They’re doing everything they can to get the slots

bill passed.They’re really concerned about their place as

a breeding industry. In the past, they never worried about

that because they had the horses, the ownership, and the

money to support them.

Mike O’Farrell: I think they’re in worse shape.Their

operations cost a whole lot more to maintain and oper-

ate than ours do, and their whole sales make-up is based

on high-dollar horses. Ours is tied more to the two-year-

old market and training. Going forward, the training end

is going to carry it.

Brent: It’s a stabilizing factor.

Dick:Theyused to say inKentucky,Thoroughbred rac-

ing is a social event. In Florida, it’s a timed event.You’ve

got to have good horsemen.You can’t just come out here

and take a shot, and I thinkwe’ve have a lot of that kind of

thing going on.We’ve lost track of breeding fast horses.

Dean: Are a lot of good horsemen still here?

Dick: Oh yeah. I would say there are more good

horsemen in this county than anywhere in the world.

Mike Compton: That’s why everybody comes here

to train. We have the best horsemen and horsewomen,

the best soil, the best climate. This is where just about

every top race horse gets its early lessons.

Phil: I like Brent’s term of “stabilizer” because, for

me, when you talk about the nosedive and whether at

some point you can’t pull back up, I think the training in-

dustry is what prevents that from happening. If we’re

still breeding, people come down here and see their

horses trained and they’re breeders themselves, a lot of

them go, “Why aren’t we in Ocala?” It just continues to

reintroduce the breeder to our area.

Dean: Well, that’s one of the reasons we wanted

this group, people committed to this area, to get to-

gether. Just Sunday in the paper, there was a front-

page article that basically wrote the obituary for the

local horse industry. Was that premature?

Dick:The two things that hurt the most right now are

headlines like that and banks saying they’re not going

lend money to the industry.

Dean: But perception is reality for a lot of people.

Mike: Are there going to be fewer horse farms?Yes,

but that doesn’t mean our business is going to go away.

Brent: Well, those articles suggest an automobile

driving off a cliff. It’s more like a rollercoaster.

‘A GREAT TIME TO INVEST’

Dean: Let’s talk a little about potential fixes. What

are you each doing individually in your businesses

over the next year?

Phil: Peterson & Smith has been in business for al-

most 30 years and we’re certainly invested in this area.

Our plans are to weather the storm just like everybody

else. It means keeping our expenses as low as we can,

providing the services for as low a price as we can, not

going up on any costs.

Brent: I’ve managed horse farms my whole life, so I

changed the management structure on my farm. I’m now

the chief cook and bottle washer. We probably made a 40

percent reduction inourpayroll the last fewyears—someof

that was related to the loss of boarding fewer broodmares.

Last year we bred 700 mares on the farm. That was

probably 17, 18 percent of the total number of mares bred

in the state.Mygoal is to increase that number.We’ve also

lowered our stud fees several times in the last 18 months.

What we all have to do is just keep our head down and go

forward until we see that light at the end of the tunnel.

Mike O’Farrell: An awful lot of what goes on from

here forward involves people making good decisions. If


THEPARTICIPANTS:

(left to right)

Phil Matthews—veterinarian, Peterson

& Smith Equine Hospital

J. Michael “Mike”O’Farrell Jr.—

president/generalmanager, Ocala Stud

Farm

LeanTimes

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they’re in the breeding business, they need to make the

right decisions about what type of stallion they breed to,

what type of stud fee they want to invest in that stallion. I

think some people get themselves in trouble with over-

breeding theirmares—they put too big of a stud fee into a

mare that isn’tworthy, then go to the sales and losemoney.

A lot of themwill be forced to get out of the business.

I could be wrong, but I find it a great time to invest

in our industry.We recently bought a handful of brood-

mares. Prices have come down and that offers me the

opportunity to compete with some wealthy farms.

Phil: It comes back to supply and demand. If there’s

going to be half as many foals born in 2011, stud fees are

lower, and the price of a newmare is lower. If you can af-

ford to stay in thegame, itmayverywell be anopportunity.

Dick:History has shown that it will turn around.The

legislation will become law within the next four or five

months, probably won’t be effective until July 1.

Mike O’Farrell: I said earlier that some folks will go

out of business, and I don’t want to give the impression

that we want that. Large farms cannot exist without

small farms. Small farms can’t exist without large farms.

We’re all in this together.

‘WE’RE THE EQUINE EPICENTER’

Dean: Do you see the international aspect of the

business growing over time?

Dick: Absolutely. We went to Korea in 2003 to not

much enthusiasm. Now they’re building an additional

race track in SouthKorea, and they’ll be looking for 400,

500 two-year-olds in training about two years from now.

We sold over $1.5 million average about the last three

years to South Korea in the two-year-old sales.

We’ve also been successful with Ireland and Eng-

land. In those countries, it’s different. South Korea is

buying because they need the horses. With the other

countries, we’ll just trade back and forth—when the euro

or the dollar is up.

Mike O’Farrell:The Koreans probably bid on about

a third of the horses sold in ourApril sale.

Brent:They’re huge.

Phil:They’re floating everybody’s boat a little higher.

Jaye:That’s a new revenue stream that I think is going

to position us even more favorably. We have the culture

and the infrastructure—our good docs, the tack stores, the

food stores.We are the equine epicenter of the world.

Dick:Also, South Korea talked to us about going to

China. The world’s become a lot smaller for all of us.

Dean: Are you seeing a lot of horses abandoned

because people can’t care of them anymore?

Phil: When people are struggling, their animals

struggle.

Brent: People don’t understand how expensive it is to

own a horse. For instance, to take care of one horse, you

really need to have two acres of land.Then you’re going

to provide veterinary care, farrier care, and feed. It’s not

like taking a cat or a dog home. People realize after they

get into it just how expensive it is.

And it is a problem.Apparently, in western Kentucky,

there are horses just being turned loose out on open land.

I think there’s been some of that going on out here in the

[Ocala National] Forest. We have to educate people

about what goes into taking care of a horse.

Dick: One of the things that we’ve worked on over

the years that’s paying off right now is our retirement

farm for Thoroughbreds out at the prison. Through the

[Florida] Department of Corrections, we take every

horse that comes off the racetrack and send them

through rehabilitation and into retirement. That’s been

going now for seven or eight years, and it’s picking up.

A lot of the horses that come out of there make pleasure

horses, event horses, and even polo horses.

Dean: Any final thoughts?

Jaye: There’s an inordinate amount of pride in this

community toward the horse industry. We need to help

on a county, state, and federal level of working with

businesses so that it’s favorable for the horses to be bred

and raised here in Florida. I don’t think our policymak-

ers necessarily understand the big picture.

Brent: I got here in 1976, so I’m totally committed

to the industry. I want to do whatever we can do to be a

positive force. Any commitment we can get interna-

tionally—like South Korea—will be huge for us. If we

can make people understand just how important this in-

dustry is to Ocala/Marion County, if we can get those

people behind us and let them start rattling a few cages

up there in Tallahassee, it would be huge. �


THEPARTICIPANTS:(left to right)

Brent Fernung—president,Journeyman Stud

Dick Hancock—executive vice president,FTBOA


By NICK FORTUNA

Anenthusiastic and tightly bunched crowd was

treated to a thrilling finish to the annual OBS

Day of Champions on Feb. 15, as Quiet All

American got up just in time to win themale division of

the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes.

OBS offered four stakes races worth a total of

$300,000 to 3-year-old horses who had passed through

its sales ring, and Florida-breds won two of them.

Quiet All American ran just behind pacesetting

Florida-bred Da Plane for much of the 11⁄16-mile con-

test. Da Plane set fast fractions of 23 seconds for the

opening quarter-mile and 46 4/5 seconds for a half-mile

before tiring to finish sixth in the field of nine. Florida-

bred Gator Tiger went four wide around the turn, mak-

ing a big move to grab the lead, but couldn’t hold on, as

Quiet All American rallied just outside of him to finish

in 1:452⁄5.

WithVictor Lebron aboard, QuietAllAmerican fin-

ished a neck in front of Gator Tiger, who was a nose in

front of Florida-bred Forty NineAcres.

“We’ve always thought a lot of this horse, and it

took him a few races to put it all together, but today

he proved that he’s going to be a quality horse,” win-

ning trainer Dale Romans said. “He was really game.

He tried to come up the fence. I was concerned when

that horse passed him. I thought that horse was going

to put him away, but Victor said it just re-energized

him, and when he got him to the outside, he came

running.”

Romans said Quiet All American could be pointed

toward the $500,000 Lane’s End Stakes (G2), a nine-fur-

long race for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park on March 27.

The son of Forest Camp went 0-for-3 as a juvenile

last year but won his 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream

Park on Jan. 9, capturing a $45,000 maiden special

weight race by a neck. Quiet All American has earned

$86,610 for ownerWest PointThoroughbreds. Hewas a

$225,000 purchase at OBS in Feb-

ruary 2009 and was consigned by

Ciaran Dunne’sWavertree Stables.

SPLENDID SOUND BREAKS MAIDEN

In the fillies’ division of the $100,000 OBS Cham-

pionship Stakes, Florida-bred Splendid Sound broke her

maiden in style in only her second career start, drawing

off for a three-length score.

With Eibar Coa aboard for the first time, Splendid

Sound raced on the inside in second place for much of

the 1 1/16-mile contest asVolare Cantare set fractions of

24 3/5 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 49 3/5 sec-


Florida-breds Win

An excited crowd was treated to a thrilling day of races at

LOUISE

REINAG

ELPH

OTOS

Quiet All American(center) won the male

division of the OBSChampionship Stakes.

OBS.DayofChampions.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 9:49 AM Page 40

onds for a half-mile. Splendid Sound got through along

the rail to challenge the leader on the backstretch and

shook loose from her six rivals, finishing in 1:46 2/5.

Miss Olivia Rae, a Florida-bred daughter of El

Corredor bred by Westbury Stables, finished second, 2¼

lengths ahead of Volare Cantare.

“When you come up here and you run on this sur-

face and you’ve never trained on it before, it’s kind of

like you’re just talking a shot,” winning trainer Bill

White said. “But last year I won it with Cape Royale,

and he had run well on the grass, so I figured this filly

had run well on the grass also, so we just duplicated

what we did last year.

“My worry going into the race was that she had only

run one time, so one of the things I talked about with

Eibar was to make sure she had something left because

she’s a lightly raced horse. I saw her on the lead, but I

saw the pace was so slow, so I started feeling good about


Two OBS Stakes

the OBS Day of Champions.

OBS.DayofChampions.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/4/10 12:02 PM Page 41

the race. Truthfully, we expected her to run a big one,

but winning it is a surprise.”

Splendid Sound finished third in her career debut at

Gulfstream Park, a $75,000 maiden

claimer on turf Jan. 7. She’s earned

$62,340 through two starts for

owner Charles H. Deters. Splen-

did Sound, a daughter of former

Florida stallion Trippi, was bred by Phyllis Dudley and

sold for $90,000 as a yearling at OBS in August 2008.

She was consigned by Janie Roper.

GARY D TIES TRACK RECORD

In the male division of the $50,000 OBS Sprint

Stakes, Gary D overpowered the field, tying the track

record for six furlongs with a time of 1:09 4⁄5 and win-

ning by 3¾ lengths with Jesse Jimenez Garcia aboard.

GaryD ran just behind pacesetting Florida-bredMis-

sissippi Hippie in second place through an opening

quarter-mile in 211⁄5 seconds. He then took command

with a quarter-mile left and was never seriously threat-

ened by his eight rivals.

Chief Counsel finished second, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of

Evening Concerto, whowas bred byOcala Stud Farm as

a son of resident stallion Concerto.

“I thought it was great, absolutely fantastic, espe-

cially because we didn’t know what we were getting

into, as far as this being his first time on the track,” said

winning trainer Freddie Hyatt. “But he worked good at

the sale here, and he showed today that nothing bothers

him. I think he’s a really nice horse.”

Gary D, a son of former Florida stallion Successful

Appeal, came into Monday’s race off a 6½-length vic-

tory in a $20,000 maiden special weight race at Tampa

Bay Downs last month. He’s won two of his four starts

and earned $44,485 for owner Donald M. Ming.

Gary Dwas a $100,000 purchase at OBS last March

and was consigned by Best a Luck Farm.


Florida-bredDances With Ashley

(below) prevailed in theOBS Sprint Stakes.

OBS DAY OF

CHAMPIONS


DANCES WITH ASHLEY TAKES SPRINT

In the fillies’ division of the $50,000 OBS Sprint

Stakes, Florida-bred Dances With Ashley overcame

a troubled trip to win by 2 ½ lengths, rallying on the

outside to take command down the stretch. It was

her third win in four career starts and boosted her

lifetime earnings to $62,440.

Dances With Ashley sat in fifth place early in the

six-furlong test as Robtadi and Florida-bred Purely

Perfect vied for the lead, setting fractions of 21 4/5

seconds for a quarter-mile and 451⁄5 seconds for a

half-mile. With Jermaine Bridgmohan aboard for the

first time, Dances With Ashley then went four wide

to find running room before stopping the clock in

1:10 2/5 to beat seven rivals.

Omega Girl, a daughter of Hartley/De Renzo

Thoroughbreds stallion Omega Code, finished sec-

ond, a neck ahead of Robtadi.

“She got in a little bit of trouble, but once she got

clear on the outside, I thought it was just a question

of how much she would win by because she’s so

nice,” winning trainer Marty Wolfson said. “Her

only loss was in the Old Hat, and there were terrible

track conditions. It was sloppy and cold, and she

didn’t get a hold of the track at all. She’s very pro-

fessional, and she’s got a great mind. I think that’s

what helps her when she gets into trouble like that.

She doesn’t get frazzled.

“Around the three-eighths pole, she checked. She

was laying fourth and then dropped back to sixth or

seventh, but he had her close enough, and then when

he got her outside, she knew what to do.”

Dances With Ashley is a daughter of Journeyman

Stud stallion Wildcat Heir and sold for $125,000 at

last year’s OBS February sale of 2-year-olds in train-

ing. She was consigned by Casse Sales. The filly is

owned by Denholtz Stables and was bred by Bram-

bly Lane Farm and Steve Dwoskin.

“She’s a very smart filly and always did every-

thing right – a class act,” Justin Casse said.

Dances With Ashley won a $23,700 maiden spe-

cial weight race by 1 ¼ lengths on the Calder turf

course to start her career in November, then cap-

tured a $23,700 allowance on the main track in

Miami by four lengths in December. She made her

stakes debut in the Old Hat Stakes (G3) at Gulf-

stream Park last month, finishing ninth behind

Florida-bred Richiegirlgonewild. �


Florida-bred SplendidSound (above) brokeher maiden in the filliesdivision of the OBSChampionship Stakes.



Sometimes perspectivearrives with a jolt.

It was one of those months that seemed to present

one conundrum after another. The barn needed se-

rious reconstruction work, thanks to a freak hot

water heater incident. Florida’s onset of frigid weather

had thrown a kink in everyone’s routines and farm

chores. Work was busy, though in a fantastic kind of

way, and our team here at Florida Equine Publications

was trying to stay healthy enough to ward off the flu.

Meanwhile, wewere all burning the candle at both ends.

Thenmy cell phone kicked the can and I had trouble

recoveringmy contacts. I forgot a close friend’s birthday.

A tree fell on the fence. One of our favorite colts was

battling choke, followed by pneumonia, and his recov-

ery was slow, despite the best of care. You’ve been

through these things – crazy times where it seems the

earth’s axis is tilted a few degrees off? And those myr-

iad distractions don’t even begin to address the com-

pounding struggles of our current, and very great,

recession.

A few Sunday afternoons ago, following a beautiful

HITS Ocala grand prix, I was back at the house, shuf-

fling around, reviewing paperwork and monitoring the

sick horse when my phone rang.

“I know it’s last minute, but comewith us to dinner!”

my friend’s familiar voice said. I paused hard. Bit my

lip.The kitchen looked like an apothecary with syringes

and needles lined up around the sink. I had already

counted out little pink andwhite pills for the horse’s next

dosing, and we were sampling three flavors of syrups

to make stuff taste better in his oral meds.The vet notes

were duct-taped on the cabinet above the sink to make

sure I didn’t miss any little detail. My own to-do list was

also growing. I really needed to stay home.

Then someonewho sounded just likeme said, “Why

not?What a blast – save me a seat!”

Two hours later, critters fed and medicated, clean

clothes, running late and processing way too many

thoughts all at the same time (translate: Summer was

not paying attention) I grabbedmy purse, jumped in the

truck, launched it into reverse, sped out of the driveway

and…CRASH!

Slammed right into the horse trailer, which (for ac-

tual reasons that sound ridiculous in hindsight) was

parked sort of catty-cornered behind where I dock my

truck every single day.

In that millisecond, when tailgate steel jammed

against gooseneck steel, everything sharpened into

focus. My heartbeat increased to what felt like a billion

beats per second, andmy internal dialogue went kind of

like this: “What! I’mmortified. How bad is it? Did any-

one see me? Guess it could have been worse?”And fi-

nally, breathe. Sigh, “Now what.”

Here’s what. It was a defining moment. A literal

roadblock required me to slow down and pay attention,

and to think.

Changes inmarkets throughout the past months have

caused us all to think. Here at The Florida Horse, we

brainstorm every day: How can we best market your

horses and services? How can we find new buyers for

you? How can we tell your stories to the world? How

can we help you sell your products and branding in the

greatest way? I hope, when you have ideas to help us

continually improve, you’ll let us know.

I did go on to dinner that night, and yes, we had a re-

ally nice time. I’m laughing about my debacle now, and

eventually the truck’s tailgate will somehow get itself

removed or replaced.As of this writing, I also think my

sick horse is going to make it. But most importantly, I

believe — with absolute conviction — we’re all going

to make it.

It’s a privilege to journey with you.

Summer Best

editor’s note

Summer Best/COOKIE SERLETIC PHOTO

DefinitiveMoments

EditorsNote.qx:EditorWelcome 3/4/10 12:05 PM Page 6

LISA

ENGE

LPH

OTOS

Hosted by Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Feb. 18.Silent Auction items benefiting the Marion County Humane Society. Wine compliments ofChateau Ste. Michelle and Southern Wines, featuring 14 Hands and Haras.

HITS’ Annual Equine Art GalaEquine Art Gala

1

2

3

7

6

5

1) Eric Redmond, pianist played during the event. 2) Andre Pater’s artwork made a stop inOcala before heading to Wellington. 3) Artists Mary Cour Burrows, Marsha Schloesser,Mindy Colton 4) Andre’ Pater’s work will be auctioned off to benefit the Race for Education,

a-not-for profit that provides financial aid to the children of thosein the equine industry looking to go to college.5) Artwork by Karen Bowden. 6) HITS SponsorsPRO-CARE PLUS Hoof Conditioner in attendance:Adrianna Clark, Dean DeRenzo, David Whelan, EdMagnier 7) Maggie Carter, The Sanctuary, AnnaFloyd, Drea Gunness, Teresa Hartsaw, all ofNashville, Tenn., Lisa Engel, HITS Corporate

4


ArtGala.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 9:19 AM Page 1

HITS Ocala competitors, owners,from around the country and


Liscence Plates.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 2:41 PM Page 46

trainers and vendors arrivethroughout North America.

PHOTO

SBY

KYLE

JOHN

SON


Liscence Plates.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 2:42 PM Page 47


Estate Tax - Congress had hoped to resolve the estate tax

issue in 2009 so that it did not go to zero on Jan. 1, 2010. A bi-

partisan group of House and Senate members tried to pass a per-

manent estate tax and exclusion, but failed. This is likely to be a

contentious issue in 2010. There is disagreement over the opti-

mum tax rate, the size of the exemption and whether the rate

should be indexed for inflation. Many on both sides of the aisle

want a permanent rate lower than the old 55% and a higher ex-

emption, e.g. 35% and $5 million, but legislation must be passed

to make these rates permanent.

Under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation

Act, which was passed in 2001, the estate tax has been reduced

incrementally from 55% and is eliminated for 2010. That legis-

lation also raised the amount of an estate that was exempted from

the tax from $675,000 to 3.5 million. Under that law, in 2011 the

estate tax will return to the 2001 rates of 55% with an exemption

for estates up to $1 million. Many in Congress do not want the tax

to remain at zero, but they also do not want it to go back to the

55% level of 2001. And they want some indexing provision.

The House passed the Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Fam-

ilies, Farmers, and Small BusinessesAct of 2009, introduced by

Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), which would make per-

manent the inheritance tax at 45% and set the exemption at $3.5

million, $7 million for married taxpayers. But the Senate did not

act on this legislation. Without further legislation, there will be

no estate tax in 2010 and then the rate will return to 55% with a

$1 million exemption in 2011.

Congress will attempt to reach an acceptable compromise on

the estate tax in 2010 that might be made retroactive to Jan. 1,

2010. Even if successful, any retroactive change will likely be

challenged by representatives of decedents passing away before

the change occurs.

Conservation Easements - Several other tax provisions ex-

pired at the end of 2009, including the tax incentive for contri-

butions of property made for conservation purposes. The

House-passed bill extended the conservation easement benefit,

which is important to the horse industry, through 2010, but the

Senate did not take action on this bill.

In the last days of the 2009 Congress the Chairman of the Fi-

nance Committee, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), and the senior

Republican, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), announced that

the Senate will take up the House- passed extender bill early in

2010. If they do, the conservation provision will probably be

made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010.

Expense Allowance and Bonus Depreciation - Two other tax

provisions favorable to the horse industry also expired, 50%

bonus depreciation and the increase in the expense allowance.

Bonus depreciation, which allowed an additional deprecia-

tion of 50% of the cost of yearlings, some other horses, and any

other new property placed in service in a horse business, will no

longer be available after 2009. The same is true for the more

generous expensing allowance, which was $250,000 in 2009.

In 2010 and thereafter, the allowance will be about $130,000

($125,000 adjusted for inflation since 2007). Both of these

write-off benefits were put into the law a couple of years ago to

stimulate the economy.

There is talk about a bill early in 2010 to stimulate jobs and the

two tax items could come up for consideration during that process.

Of the two, the more generous expense allowance would more

likely be included on the list of items to be part of a jobs bill since

it is directed toward small businesses and they create most of the

jobs inAmerica. It they did bring it back, or, for that matter in the

unlikely case that they also brought back bonus depreciation, the

provisions would probably be made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010.�

HORSE COUNCIL NEWSTax Provisions to be Considered in 2010As Congress starts the second session of the 111th Congress, taxes will be on the front burner.

HorseCouncil.News.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 9:38 AM Page 48


NEWS BITS

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) recently an-

nounced the launch of its first ever official mobile application.

“FEI EquiTests”, developed in cooperationwith Canada-based

e-learning and visual communication design specialists Numen

Communciations Inc., is a mobile application designed to help

riders learn, reference and practice FEI Dressage tests.

“FEI EquiTests”, is available worldwide through the Apple

iTunes store under FEI license.

For each test, the application allows iPhone and iPod users to:

•read the test instructions along with the marking criteria;•viewDressage animation diagrams that outline themovementsof the test;

•record and play readings of the test that are perfectly timed tomatch the user’s individual horses and the arena in which they

are practicing;

•reference the official Dressage test score sheet to see where thejudges’ emphasis is;

•get better understanding of the FEI Rules as PDFs of the rule-books on topics such asmovement definitions, competition rules,

dress code, judging and veterinary inspection are available;

•keep up-to-date with the latest Dressage news through the FEInews feed.

FEI EquiTests 1 is available for free, so riders and coaches

may evaluate the features available. This application includes all

features related to one sample test: the globally used FEIYoung

Riders Individual Competition Test.

FEI EquiTests 2 includes all the most recent 2009 FEI Event-

ing DressageTests and is available

for $9.99.

Additional versions of FEI

EquiTests featuring FEIDressage

and FEI Para-Equestrian Dres-

sage tests will be launched later

this year.

There’s An App For That! Official FEI Dressage Tests are now available on mobile devices.

WEBER LEADS AGAIN

The Sunshine State CDE, held the final

weekend in February at the Florida Horse

Park, served as the third outing for Four-In-

Hand drivers hoping to qualify for

the 2010AlltechFEIWorldEques-

trian Games (WEG). Ocala’s

ChesterWeber andhis teamcontin-

ued their winning ways from 2009, leading

after dressage and the marathon, and even

after onlyhaving time faults in the coneswere

still able to defend their title. James Fair-

clough, driving JaneClark’s team, put in stel-

lar performances to finish second, while

David Saunders and Alan & Maureen Aul-

son’sMorgans were third.

Monday and Tuesday

team coaches Michael Fre-

und and Peter Tischer were

on hand from Germany to

provide training sessions for

WEG candidates.After hav-

ing seen improvement over

the weekend in dressage,

most of the session focused

on the marathon and the cones phases.

In the SingleHorse division, ScottMon-

roe and hisMorgan gelding, BethesdaAfter

Dark, dominated all three phases finishing

with only 106.82 in penalties. Fin-

ishing second was Donna Crook-

ston and RG Cowboys Black

Cadillac; Bob Koopman and

Whippoorwill Keep Dancing were third.

The Singles drivers participated in a training

sessionwith coachKoos deRondeWednes-

day and Friday during the event. There will

be training sessions for the Four-In-Hand

and Singles candidates at the next selection

trial, CAI Live Oak, March 25-28, 2010.

HOUGH AND KRAUT LONG-LISTEDTheUnited States Equestrian Federation

(USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection

has approved, naming the horse/rider com-

binations of Lauren Hough/Quick Study

and Laura Kraut/Cedric to the Show Jump-

ing Long List for the 2010 Alltech FEI

World Equestrian Games.

As per the USEF Selection Procedure

for the Show JumpingTeam, Selectors have

the discretion to recommend up to six of

the 15 horse/rider combinations to the Long

List regardless of their participation or plac-

ing in the Selection Trials. The remaining

nine combinations will be chosen accord-

ing to their ranking at the conclusion of the

USEF Selection Trials for the US Show

Jumping Team which run Feb. 25 – March

7 inWellington.

Hough and Quick Study (owned by

Laura and Meredith Mateo) and Kraut and

Cedric (owned by Happy Hill Farm) both

jumped two clear rounds in the first two

legs of the USEF Selection Trials for the

Florida Riders and Drivers Aim for Qualifyingfor the World Equestrian Games

See Hough and Kraut next pageCOUR

TESY

CHES

TER

WEB

ER

NEWSBits.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 9:07 AM Page 49

NEWS BITS


US Show Jumping Team currently under-

way at the PalmBeach International Eques-

trianCenter inWellington.This combination

joins Sapphire/McLainWardwhowere also

named to the Long List.

The 15 horse/rider combinations on the

Long List will travel to Europe and compete

at CSIOs La Baule, Rome, St. Gallen, Rot-

terdam, Aachen, Falsterbo, Hickstead and

Dublin before final Selection for the 2010

Alltech FEIWorld Equestrian Games.

RED HILLS HORSE TRIALS HOSTWORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Back on the calendar after a hiatus in

2009, the RedHills HorseTrials inTallahas-

see, Fla., is always a popular feature of the

spring season. This year it runs March 4-7.

The HSBC FEI Eventing World Cup

traverses the globe, giving the best horse

and rider combinations the chance to qual-

ify for the HSBC FEIWorld Cup Final.

A major event on the Tallahassee sport-

ing and social calendar, Red Hills also fea-

tures national level competition from

Preliminary to Advanced. With entries in

the triple digits, and many of the nation’s

best entered in theWorld CupQualifier, the

competition promises to be an early show-

case of what 2010 has in store for US

Eventing.

Competitors include former winner

Phillip Dutton, who picked up three victo-

ries in the CIC3*-W in recent years. Hewill

ride Kheops du Quesnay and Tru Luck

(who was second in 2007) in his attempt at

a fourth win.

But Dutton, who was a member of the

USTeam at the 2008 Olympic Games, will

have plenty of competition in the large

field. This includes Florida’s Olympian

Karen O’Connor with Mandiba andAllstar

andAllison Springer onArthur (Allstar and

Arthur were second and third in 2008 re-

spectively) and one of two US riders from

the 2009HSBCFEIWorld Cup Final, Buck

Davidson. He has Ballynoe Castle RM in

the CIC3*-W.

With only two qualifiers on the North

American continent, riders will have a sec-

ond chance to get earn enough points for

qualification at the Event at Rebecca Farm

in Kalispell, MT in July.

AQHA WELCOMES DRESSAGEDRESSAGE BECOMES AN OFFICIALAQHA CLASS.Dressage is now an officialAQHA class

— one in which members can

earnAQHA points, qualify for

AQHA Incentive Fund earn-

ings and compete for year-end

awards. Beginning at Training

Level Test 4, AQHA dressage

classes will be held within existing classes

at competitions recognized by the United

States Dressage Federation or licensed by

the United States Equestrian Federation.

The same USDF-USEF judges will pre-

side over theAQHA classes; the only addi-

tional requirement is that the judges must

be AQHA members. Exhibitors must also

be current members of AQHA, and the

horse must be a registeredAmerican Quar-

ter Horse.A competition license fee of $85,

good for the lifetime of the horse, is also re-

quired. The shows must be approved by

AQHA at least 60 days in advance.

TheQuarter Horse show industry has al-

ways been a point-driven system, soAQHA

has created a conversion table to change

dressage scores intoAQHA points.

In addition to awarding

points, AQHA is recognizing

the three high-pointAmerican

Quarter Horses at each of the

nine USEF-USDF Regional

Championship shows in 2010

and has also created a high-point recogni-

tion program for the open, amateur and

youth divisions of dressage competition.

Amateur and youth eligibility is based on

criteria found in the AQHA Handbook of

Rules and Regulations.

Hough and Krautfrom previous page

Lynn Palm of Palm Partnership Training & Al-liance Saddles, along with the American PaintHorse Association, are pleased to announce par-ticipation in the Equine Village of the Alltech FEIWorld Equestrian Games.

The Equine Village will be a world-class spec-tator attraction, offering equine entertainment, ed-ucational activities and lectures from equineindustries. This feature exhibit area will be a majorpart of the atmosphere and attractions offered toGames visitors in addition to the world champi-onship competitions in eight equestrian sports.

“We have created the Equine Village to serveas an educational experience for the Games’ spec-tators about different breeds, disciplines, and allthat the equine industry encompasses,” said JamieLink, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation.

As a member of the 2010 Games Equine Vil-lage, Lynn Palm with Rugged Painted Lark willshowcase the American Paint Horse on thegrounds of the Kentucky Horse Park to hundreds ofthousands of spectators during the 16 days ofcompetition.

Activities provided by Lynn Palm will includeBridleless Musical Exhibitions.Within a 12-minuteperformance, Palm includes elements of dressage,reining and jumping to showcase the beauty,amazing athleticism and outstanding ability ofRugged Painted Lark.

“We do one song in the western saddle withreining and dressage movements, then switch tothe hunt seat saddle and do dressage and jumpingmovements without the bridle. It is very unique andwe are very proud to showcase the unique abilitiesof western, dressage, and jumping as well asdemonstrate dressage principles that apply to alldisciplines. Most of all we are very proud to showa happy horse while performing.” Palm said.

Both general admission and competition ticketholders will have access to the activities in theEquine Village, as well as other attractions includ-ing the Trade Show, Kentucky Experience, AlltechInternational Pavilion, and sponsor showrooms.With approximately 600,000 tickets to be sold,spectators will come from around the world to wit-ness the highest achievements in equestrian sport.

Lynn Palm and Rugged Painted Lark Selected as Members of the2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Equine Village

NEWSBits.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 9:07 AM Page 50


The Florida Horse Park is moving right along at a

good pace. We are so excited about the construc-

tion and permitting phase that we are experienc-

ing amidst the construction of the new 4,000-square foot

lavatory, concession and service area. The momentum is

just building.

We have started off the year by engaging the assistance

of Jim Donovan, president of Donovan Management Inc.

of Orlando, a consulting firm that assists clients in ad-

vancing philanthropy. Jim will assist the park and our

board of directors in preparing a capital funding cam-

paign, strategic plan and funding plan.

We would like to introduce a new staff member, Kather-

ine Wimberly. Katie graduated from the University of

Florida with a major in Agricultural Education and Com-

munications, and before that attended Vanguard High

School. An avid equestrian, she was a member of the

United States North American Young Rider Team for the

2006 NorthAmerican Championship CCI team. Katie will

assume the position of marketing assistant and will be

working with our sponsors, event coordinators and ad-

vertising initiatives.

LAC Grant Consultants has been working diligently to

identify and apply for several grants to assist with con-

struction funding for future facilities. Leigh Chambliss,

President of LAC has committed active resources to the re-

search and development of these grant applications, rang-

ing from small to large, private and governmental. We be-

lieve the grants would facilitate a portion of our

development and allow us to broaden our focus to include

shelter for equine and personal evacuation, historical preser-

vation and various agricultural and educational pursuits.

I am excited about our upcoming events. The winter

season has been well attended with unparalleled partici-

pation and attendance for world class dressage, three

phase, and endurance events. Polo in the Park and Cow-

boy Mounted Shooting begins in March and our outfitter,

Cactus Jack’s Trail Company, is hosting guided horse rides

across the park and the Greenway. The Florida Horse Park

hosted a number of successful events in January: a 3-Day

Event, aWinter Dressage Show, an USEA Instructor Cer-

tification ProgramWorkshop, a Cross Country Schooling

day, a Recreational Vehicle show and a FEI Endurance

Ride, all of which broke attendance records from 2009.

We are looking forward to Day at the Park in April.

I hope you will visit the Florida Horse

Park. Enjoy our events and help us keep

the pace.

Happy Trails,

Connie Duff Wise

Chairman

Keeping a Good PaceYour FLORIDA HORSE PARK

YourFloridaHorsePark.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 2:40 PM Page 1

By MARK SHUFFITTMarion County Livestock ExtensionAgent

Working on a horse farm, you’re

usually prepared for things you

know will or may occur. You an-

ticipate colic, cuts, scrapes and dings for both

horses and workers and are ready to deal with

these issues on a moment’s notice. You have

fully stocked medicine cabinets, foaling kits

and first aid kits.You make sure to have fenc-

ing supplies for repairing holes created by er-

rant drivers and fallen trees. And what horse

farmwouldn’t keepPVCpipe, glue and fittings

for fixingwells and brokenwaterers?But, there

are some things you just don’t expect.

A fewwinters ago,while loading hay out of

the barn I jumped back and dropped the bale I

was about to throwwhen I suddenly felt some-

thing crawling upmy leg . . . on the inside ofmy

pants. I was wearing a “farm worn” pair of

jeans that were thread-bear in the knees and

thighs. As quick as I dropped the bale, I

reached down to grab whatever was crawling

inmypants and stopped a fieldmouse halfway

between my knee and my waist. The guy on

the trailer asked “What the *@#% are you

doing?” as I yelled “There’s a mouse in my

pants!”Whenhe finally caught his breath from

laughing, he asked me what I was going to do.

I told him “I don’t know, BUT I’m not gonna

turn him loose!” I ended up crushing that

mouse and let him fall out the bottom of my

pants. No offense to mouse lovers, but I just

couldn’t turn him loose in my pants.

Several years later, as a broodmaremanager

on a local Thorough-

bred farm, I got another

big surprise as I was

loading feed early one

morning. Just as I

grabbed a bag of feed, a

mouse ran out from be-

hind the stack of bags

and a cat came out of

nowhere, up my back, knocking off my cap as

he flewovermyhead for themouse.Thatmight

sound normal enough, but the day before we

didn’t have a cat. Not knowing where the cat

came from and NOT being a “cat” person, I

told my crew members not to feed or pay any

attention to the cat and I would take him to the

animal shelter. One day turned into the next,

we got busywith our farm chores and I kind of

forgot about the cat. About a week later, as we

were cleaning out the feed room for our Friday

delivery, I noticed there was a lot less feed to

sweep up, and only one or two of the bags on

the bottomof the stack had holes in them. I fig-

ured the cat had been helping out with mouse

control and decided I would wait a couple of

weeks (when themicewere gone) before I took

him to the animal shelter.

Birds were also a problem. We had a con-

crete block barn and birds would build nests

and roost on the top of the walls and in the

cupolas. We had tried to screen the cupolas,

but had little success. We couldn’t screen the

whole barn and the birds would peck holes in

the screen to get into the cupolas. Once a

month we would have

to pressure wash the

bird droppings and try

to remove the nests.

Most of the birds rebuilt

their nest and it seemed

if they didn’t put them

back in the same place,

they would build new

nests higher in the barn. One afternoon as I

walked through the barn, the cat came running

by carrying a bird.A couple of days later, I no-

ticed our cat had taken to walking the tops of

thewalls and the rafters of the barn. Soon after

that,most of the birdswere gone except for the

ones way at the top of the barn in the cupolas.

By then, I was impressed, though still NOT

being a cat person. (A few days later, we

screened the cupolas and as far as I know the

birds went back to the trees.)

Just like a new hire, that cat proved he had

something to offer and was willing to work.

He had earned himself a spot on our crew.

Dealing with critters and pests on ahorse farm is a nuisance—controlling

them can become a constant struggle.

“Last month I got a callfrom a horse farm owner wanting

to know what he could do to controlmice and birds in his barn.

I told himwhat I had experiencedand suggested he consider putting

a barn cat on the payroll.”

CrittersPests&


Critters.Pest.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 2:24 PM Page 52

The next time the vet came; I asked him to

take a look at our new barn cat, neuter him

and give him whatever vaccinations were

needed. Spayed and neutered cats work best.

They usually stay closer to home and you

don’t have to give away a bunch of kittens.

Last month I got a call from a horse

farm owner wanting to know what he could

do to control mice and birds in his barn.

He had tried baits and traps, but the mice

and rats would rather eat the horse feed.

He had also placed plastic barn owls and

rubber snakes in strategic locations to ward

off unwanted critters, but that didn’t work

either. I told him what I had experienced

and suggested he consider putting a barn

cat on the payroll.

*Just like your horses, make sure barn

cats receive proper vaccinations and an an-

nual checkup. �

Illustration by John Filer/Courtesy TheHorse.com


Critters.Pest.qx:Layout 1 3/4/10 9:51 AM Page 53

ESIP

HOTO

S

GolfScenes fromthe annual

HITS Ocala golftournament at GoldenOcala Golf & EquestrianClub, held Feb. 22.

1

2

3


GolfPhotos.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 11:32 AM Page 54

4

1) Mike McCormick on the greens. 2) Gavin Moylan’sfoursome! 3) The Melting Pot team served up lunch onSunday in the VIP-steak, shrimp, famous fondues…4) Jim Tenney looks like he may not have been happy with his performance…5) Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille Manager Steve McBee serving up Louisiana cookin’ for HITS competitors at the MardiGras Exhibitor Party 6) Jason Lister and Jen Scherrens at the Compass Fitness/Ocala Horse Properties/IpanemaExhibitor Party at Compass Fitness. 7) Tom Struzzieri and Danielle Santos, Marketing and PR for Charles Owen.8)Charles Owen display in HITS Ocala VIP Tent.

@ Golden Ocala

7 8

5

6


GolfPhotos.qx:Layout 1 3/5/10 11:32 AM Page 55


Situated on 100 grassy acres in northeastMarionCounty,the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm is home to more than 50Florida-bred ex-racehorses. All of the horses arrive at the farm after theircareers on the racetrack are over. Sure, their racing days are behind them,but after rest and retraining, many of the horses at the Florida TRF areready for adoption. Many go on to enjoy second careers in dressage, trailriding, jumping, pleasure riding and other uses. Even those horsesthat are not rideable may find adoptive homes as companion an-imals. As more horses are adopted into new homes, more spacesare available for horses to join the Florida TRF program.

The farm is operated in conjunction with the Florida Departmentof Corrections and Marion Correctional Institution and all thehorses are cared for by female inmates from the LowellCorrectional Institute.Thewomen, all non-violent offenders, spendtheir days learning barn management skills including grooming,feeding, doctoring, and physical therapy and they help teach thehorses new disciplines. It’s a symbiotic relationshipwhereby the horses learnthe skills they need to go on to new careers and the inmates learn about team-work and trust. At the conclusion of the year-long program,having successfully passed 22written tests covering all aspects of horse care,inmates graduate with a vocational certificate in equine care technology.Upon their release, some of the graduates have gone on to work in theindustry as grooms and stable managers.

Two famous Florida-bred champions permanently reside at the farm:Carterista, the 1993 Florida ChampionTurf Horse andwinner of eight stakesraces, and Shake You Down, the 2003 Florida Champion Sprinter andwinner of nearly $1.5 million.

The Florida TRF currently has a waiting list for incomingThoroughbreds. In order to join the list, the horse should be aFlorida-bred Thoroughbred, coming straight from the track. The

horse should be retired due to age or physical condition. ContactFlorida Thoroughbred Charities for more information at 352-629-2160.A donation is requested along with each horse accepted into the program.

Founded in 2001, the farm is supported though the concentrated effortsof Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, FloridaThoroughbred Charities, Ocala Breeders’Sales Company, Gulfstream Park,Calder RaceCourse,TampaBayDowns, the FloridaHorsemen’s Benevolentand Protective Association, the national Thoroughbred RetirementFoundation, as well as by many individuals who contribute through dona-tions and fundraising efforts.

For more information on adopting a retired Florida-bred racehorse, pleasecontact the FTBOA offices at 352-629-2160.

Since 1990 Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the non-profit, charitablearm of the FTBOA has raised more than $3.5 million for a variety ofcommunity and Thoroughbred industry causes. Much of the fundraisingefforts are made possible due to thesupport FTBOA and FTC receivefrom corporate sponsorship.

Mer

edith

Woo

dsPh

otos

Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm

FLORIDA THOROUGHBREDBREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603www.ftboa.com • [email protected]

34387.FTC.Charities.WTW:Layout 1 4/29/09 11:26 AM Page 1


W

Cribbing.Chewing.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/4/10 9:54 AM Page 58


Understanding wood chewing andcribbing behaviors in horses.

Floridians are well aware that termites are capable of causing significant economic and

physical damage to wooden structures. These little insects are unique in that they

thrive virtually exclusively on wood.While some horses also seem to have a termite

gene and try to “eat the barn down around them,” horses are not capable of thriving on wood.

Termites produce an enzyme, cellulase, that breaks down the poorly digestible wood compo-

nent, cellulose. They also have microorganisms in their digestive system that are capable of

digesting cellulose. Horses do not produce cellulase themselves, but are able to digest plant

material with help frommicrobes in their digestive system.The horse’s system is pretty good

at digesting the more digestible fibers of grass but can’t domuchwith the high cellulose con-

tent of wood. That doesn’t seem to keep some horses from giving it a good try.

Wood chewing is seen in both confined and pastured horses and may be a highly individ-

ual behavior. It has been reported that two-three horses out of a group of 10 did 90 percent of

the wood chewing. Chewing wood is more common during cold and wet weather, when diets

are low in fiber or high in grain content, when horses are confined and bored or in young

horses soon after weaning. In weanlings, this may be a behavior similar to teething in children.

As their teeth erupt and they are no longer nursing, chewing wood may help alleviate some

pain from new teeth coming in.

Horses rapidly changed from long-stemmed hay to a completely pelleted ration, replacing the

grain and hay, may be more likely to chew wood because they eat the pelleted ration more

quickly.This createsmore time for boredom to set in. Horses gradually changed to a completely

pelleted ration offered in smaller, more frequent meals adjust quite readily to this type of diet.

Chewing tree bark has been reported to be common in feral horses. These

free-roaming horses often browse on brush, leaves and tree bark evenwhen there

WBecome Termiteshen Horses

By Karen E. Davison, Ph.D.Manager- Equine Technical Services • Land O’Lakes Purina Feed



is ample grass available. If horses

have free access to trees, they can

chew enough bark to kill a tree in

a short period of time. Some trees are potentially toxic

to horses, including cherry, peach, black walnut, black

locust and certain types of pine. For the safety of the

trees and the horses, measures should be taken to pre-

vent horses from chewing on tree bark.

The relatively regular occurrence of wood chewing in

horses indicates that this oral behav-

ior may be a normal foraging be-

havior in horses and not a stable

vice.Most often,woodchewinghas

an economic impact due to damage

tobarns, trees and fences rather than

causing any health problems for the

horse, althoughwood splinters have

been reported to cause small intestinal obstruction in some

horses. Some cases of wood chewing may be related to a

diet low in fiber or to boredom, but many cases are horses

just looking for something different to chew or taste.

CHEWING VS. CRIBBING

Horse owners may be concerned that wood chewing

could lead to cribbing, but these are very different behav-

iors and one doesn’t seem to lead to the other. Cribbing

behavior is included in the list of stable vices or stereo-

typies.These are defined as apparently functionless, repet-

itive behaviors.True cribbers set their incisors (front teeth)

over a stationary object such as a fence board or edge of a

feed trough, arch their necks and pull back. They often

emit a grunting sound which is thought to be “sucking”

air but some say they are actually forcing air out, similar

to a burp.Cribbing is thought to bemore prevalent in nerv-

ous, high-strung horses confined to a stall and in horses

eating high amounts of concentrate feed. Some reports

correlate cribbingwith stomach acidity and gastric ulcers.

However, there aremany accounts of pastured horses crib-

bing, so there may be additional factors involved. Crib-

bing has been reported to be found in much higher

numbers in some families ofThoroughbreds, indicating a

possible hereditary predisposition to this behavior.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

Even though both wood chewing and cribbing are

seen in pastured horses, confinement and stress both

seem to increase the risk of these behaviors. Feeding

plenty of fiber, providing ample turnout and exercise

and letting horses see out of their stalls are all possible

management options to help reduce the occurrence of

these unwanted behaviors. Playing music in the barn

could also help lower the stress level in the barn. �

Feeding plenty of fiber, providingample turnout and exercise and

letting horses see out of their stallsare all possible management

options to help reduce the occur-rence of cribbing and/or chewing.

Wood Chewingand Cribbing


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James Earl Carter occupied the White House in

1978, when the last Triple Crown winner was

crowned.The first-ever cell phonewas introduced

in Illinois that year.A gallon of gasoline cost about 63

cents andwith the nation in the throes of an energy cri-

sis, a widespread demand for fuel efficient cars

emerged that wasmet primarily by imports from Japan.

The averageAmerican earned $17,000 and the av-

erage price of a new home was $54,800. Monthly rent

was about $260.TheU.S. dollar plunged to record lows

against many European currencies and unemployment

was a major issue. The Florida-bred Affirmed fended

offAlydar in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Bel-

mont Stakes.

Thirty-two years later, it is, in some particularly de-

pressed real estate markets, again possible to purchase

a home for $54,800 and the automobile industry has re-

turned to an age of small, fuel efficient cars, manyman-

ufactured inAsia. Unemployment is again on the front

burner of American concerns. But it seems almost as

though we will see a 63-cent gallon of gasoline before

the coronation of another Triple Crown winner.

The waning years of

the ‘70s were either the

end of racing’s last era

of prosperity or the be-

ginning of the end, de-

pending upon the

vantage point. In a span

of six years, Secretariat,

Seattle Slew and Af-

firmed won the Triple Crown and each in his own

time had become a mainstream media star.

Off-track betting was limited to NewYork. Simul-

casting was not yet part of the lexicon. The Internet

and the personal computer were far from entering the

mainstream of American life, let alone vehicles for

placing a wager on a horse race. People read news-

papers and most lived without cable television.

Hialeah and Gulfstream Park were still fighting over

mid-winter racing dates. The trifecta was the most-

exotic bet available to the horseplayer and grand-

stands at racetracks were gathering places, still with

separate windows for betting and cashing, where kin-

dred spirits from every social stratum gathered daily.

A person born in 1978 is now concerned with

preparing for retirement; many have a career, a family,

concerns about the value of a home purchased with no

money down and a real-estate bubble fully inflated;may

have served in one ormore theaters of war and faces an

uncertain future in a dangerous world—but has never

seen aTriple Crownwinner.The children of this gener-

ation are growing up in front of computer screens, com-

municate primarily on social networking Internet sites

and are barely if at all aware that racing exists.

SinceAffirmed, 11 3-year-olds have won the Derby

and Preakness only to meet defeat in the Belmont

Stakes. Some were denied narrowly, some were con-

vincing failures in their bids for immortality and, per-

hapsmost importantly, themainstream stardom beyond

the narrowing niche in which racing is now conducted.

Those of sufficient vintage recall the lament over the

quarter-century that separated Citation’s Triple Crown

andSecretariat,whose stardomwas unprecedented in the

springtime of the sport’s most memorable tour de force.

Then, as now, racing and thenation longed for a star to

avert the attention in uncertain times.Thewound ofViet-

nam was open in 1973. TheWatergate scandal festered,

disgrace hung heavy over the White House. Americans

shared disillusion.They embraced a chestnut flamed that

embodied an almost fierce perfection. Secretariat

launched something of a renaissance to which Seattle

Slew and Affirmed made stalwart contributions. They

brought people to the races. They made racing fans who

begat more racing fans.This may no longer be possible.

Racing’s mainstream media profile barely has a

pulse. Beyond the Triple Crown series the sport has

virtually no network television presence. Newspapers,

as we knew them, barely exist and most that endure

threadbare pay no attention to racing even in the

largest markets. Meager efforts to attract young po-

tential fans have had no discernable result and every

facet of the industry is in contraction.

We are again at the cusp of springtime, prepared to

celebrate in diminished numbers the three races around

which the season revolves. The vigil continues. Rac-

ing folk surrender hope grudgingly, their game based

entirely upon dreams. From here, the 3-year-old land-

scape appears to be as confusing as in anyMarch. But,

as in any March, this just may be the year. �

PLAYER’S PAGE

by Paul Moran

It’s “PastTime”

Since Affirmed, 11 3-year-olds have won

the Derby and Preakness only to meet

defeat in the Belmont Stakes. Some were

denied narrowly, some were convincing

failures in their bids for immortality

Players.PgMoran.qx:Florida Horse_template 3/5/10 9:41 AM Page 1



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