STALLION TASK FORCE REPORT
(As presented to the CTHS (Alberta Division) Board of Directors' Meeting on Friday, March 28, 2008)
On or about November 14th, 2007 the second draft of the Stallion Task Force Committee recommendations was circulated to the Alberta CTHS membership.
At the CTHS Alberta Directors' Meeting on November 29, 2007 the Board of Directors voted 7 to 3 to reject, in its entirety, the second draft of the proposed Stallion Task Force Committee.
Mike Secker and Gordon Wilson, the CTHS representatives on the Stallion Task Force Committee, reported the CTHS Alberta directors' position to the Task Force Committee.
The Stallion Task Force Committee took the CTHS information under advisement plus the numerous letters and feedback from the Alberta membership who provided both positive and negative responses. This feedback was then used to develop a third draft.
The third draft was again circulated on January 24th, 2008 so that everyone had another opportunity to review and respond to the document. The third draft again received a wide range of views from the entire industry and there was no clear conclusion. It was clearly evident that there was a great misunderstanding whereby members seemed to believe that this program was subsidizing a few stallion owners. Almost all however, understood and relayed that we needed to improve the breeding stock in Alberta in order to be competitive at the race track.
Mike Secker and Gordon Wilson offered, with the assistance of Jean Kruse, to meet any and all CTHS members in person to discuss the current breed improvement programs and look at ways in which to develop new programs. A committee made up of individuals from across the province would be struck to review these ideas for breed improvement programs. In this way, members from across the province would have an opportunity for input into new programs. This committee of Alberta breeders will make recommendation to the general membership at the CTHS Annual General Meeting.
Membership meetings are scheduled for Grande Prairie, Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce Room, on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m., in Edmonton at the Northlands Paddock Theatre on Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 p.m., and in Red Deer, Westerner Park Pioneer Room at 7:00 p.m. On Thursday, April 10th a meeting is scheduled in Lethbridge, Exhibition Park, South Pavilion Saddle Room for 12:00 p.m. and then in Calgary at the Blackfoot Inn, Sundance Room at 7:00 p.m.
Although it is a very busy time of year for all of our breeders, in order for possible programs to be presented at the Annual General Meeting in May this process was needed to be started as soon as possible. Hopefully, this will then allow for any newly created or revised programs to be a part of the 2009 Breed Improvement Program.
It is hoped that through this process, a program or programs will be created which will assist the Alberta breeder in improving their offspring not only at the yearling sale or at the track but will also assist in to continuing to improve the Alberta Thoroughbred. -Gordon Wilson (Posted March 31, 2008)
"Humane treatment of horses throughout their life and at death is a priority."
The unwanted horse has become a real issue in North America. The Alberta Equine Welfare Group, led by Alberta Farm Animal Care, over the last number of months has conducted many meetings with industry stakeholders and in February 2008 completed a 43 page report on dealing with the unwanted horse. The executive summary of this report is as follows:
"Recent processing cut back in the United States has opened the door for expansion of the horse meat processing industry in Canada. We must assure that the industry participants are alert to the laws and conditions that exist in Canada.
We are and must continue to be active as an industry to support our provincial and federal governments assuring regular reviews and astute enforcement of all related laws and best practice codes. The industry in Canada is under scrutiny. Exemplary horse husbandry, handling and transporting standards are a must."
Copies of this report are available by contacting the AFAC at 403-932-8050.
Gordon Wilson is the Thoroughbred and Standard bred horse representative on the committee and is available to both breeds to receive comments regarding this topic. (Posted April 1, 2008)
"The Greatest Thoroughbred of All Time"
Starting March 28, 2008 and for the next five weeks, Thoroughbred racing fans can cast their votes on-line at www.bloodhorse.com/March-into-May to decide which legendary racehorse should receive the title of "The Greatest Thoroughbred of All Time".(Posted April 2,2008)
The website, www.thehorse.com recently conducted an on-line survey asking readers, "What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the welfare and safety of racehorses?" There were approximately 1,400 respondents to the survey and the results showed that the most pressing issue for those responding appeared to be injury rates at 60.33% of the responses. This was followed by medication/steroid issues for 35.01% of the responses. To read the results of this on-line survey, including the respondent's comments, please go to http://www.thehorse.com/ Click on their recent news area and look for the April 4, 2008 heading, "Readers Respond: Racehorse Awareness". (Posted April 7, 2008)
The membership meetings concluded last night in Calgary and a wealth of information, comments and concerns were shared from across the province. Fifty three members took part in the meetings which were held in Grand Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary. All the notes and written submissions obtained from these meetings are now being collated and organized and will be reviewed for their accuracy. The document will then be made available to the CTHS Board of Directors prior to the next board meeting and to the membership via our website. The CTHS Board of Directors will review the document and decide what further action will be taken in regards to the information received from these meetings. Their decisions will be shared at the Annual General Meeting which is to be held on May 23, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the Balzac Community Hall in Balzac. (Posted April 11, 2008)
Saturday, April 12th was the first of the Sales Stakes Races. Congratulations to; Owners Red Troll Racing Stable, Breeder James William Murphy, and Trainer Stuart Simon for R Lucinda who won the Four Year Old and Up for Fillies and Mares and to Owners Rocky Mountain Turf Club Stable and Don Gibb, Breeder Horizon Farm Ltd. and Trainer Doug MacDonald for Teagues Fight who won the Four Year Old and Up Sales Stakes. Many thanks to all of you for supporting the CTHS (Alberta Division) Thoroughbred Sales.
Also, congratulations to the Olds College Certified Grooms Training and Exercise Rider Program Class of 2008 who had their official graduation ceremonies today at Stampede Park. They are a wonderful addition to the industry. (Posted April 14, 2008)
One of the topics that came up during the recent membership meetings was how to encourage new owners and breeders to become a part of the industry. On April 16th there will be a new owner webcast at http://www.toba.org/programs/new-owner-seminar-webcast/ A few of the topics that will be covered are on such things as business issues, vet issues and options for acquiring horses. If you know of someone who is interested in becoming involved in the Thoroughbred industry, please encourage them to watch this webcast. (Posted April 15, 2008)
Giant's Causeway will be making a trip to Argentina where he will stand the 2008 Southern Hemisphere breeding season. He has sired 42 stakes winners and according to the April 12th issue of The Blood-horse ranks third for the 2008 Leading Sires. Giant's Causeway will be joined in Argentina by Thunder Gulch and Johannesburg, all stallions from Ashford Stud. (Posted April 16, 2008)
If anyone is in need of a surrogate broodmare, please contact Diane at 403-559-6275. The nineteen year old thoroughbred mare foaled on April 16th. This is also a reminder to please support Cyberfoal which offers internet assistance to the horse industry in regards to colostrum, nurse mares and temporary stabling for horses evacuated due to natural disasters. www.cyberfoal.com (Posted April 17, 2008)
Weather is definitely creating difficulties for this season's live racing at Stampede Park. Only five races ran on Friday, April 18th with the rest of the scheduled races being cancelled for the weekend. Stampede Park has now posted on their website that, "Due to inclement weather and safety, live racing has been cancelled on Wednesday, April 23/08". It sure would be nice to have warm weather again, this white stuff isn't much fun! (Posted April 21, 2008)
A Backstretch Benevolence Auction will be held on June 2 at Heritage Park to raise funds for the Backstretch Benevolence fund. There will be a turkey buffet, hay rides, cash bar, live auction and dance. Cocktails will start at 5:00 p.m. and supper at 6:00 p.m. with an auction and dance to follow. Tickets are $25 each and available from the Chaplaincy Board members. (Posted April 22, 2008)
Starting today the CTHS website has added a new feature called, "Horse News". This area on the news portion of the website will be used to highlight newsworthy events featuring Alberta owners, breeders and Alberta-bred horses. Keep checking the website to see what is happening in the Alberta Thoroughbred industry. (Posted April 23, 2008)
This week the CTHS office mailed out the notice for the 2008 AGM to all current members. The package contains a draft agenda, minutes from the 2007 AGM and the Financial Statement for 2007. If you do not receive your AGM package it may be due to your membership application not being received by the CTHS National office by the deadline. As soon as the updated membership list is sent to the CTHS Alberta office, AGM packages will be sent to those members.
In a previous posting it was noted that the comments and suggestions from the recent membership meetings were being reviewed for accuracy and then the CTHS Board of Directors would have an opportunity to review the document in order to decide what further action would be taken. After that, their decision would be shared at the AGM. As the next Board meeting is not until the morning of May 23rd, this item is not currently listed on the draft agenda in the AGM package or posted on the website.
Also included in this mailing is information regarding the upcoming Backstretch Chaplaincy Board Benevolence Auction. (Posted April 24, 2008)
On Saturday, April 26th the thirty-first running of "The Stampede Park Sprint Championship" will be on the program. Post time for this race is approximately 4:13 p.m. Last year's winner, Plagarist is entered so it will be interesting to see if he can win two years in a row. Horses that have won "The Stampede Park Sprint Championship" more than once include; Special Intent (1986-1988), Roll On Briartic (1989,1991), and Timely Ruckus (1997-1998,2000).
Also a reminder to those who are planning on entering yearlings into the 2008 Summer Yearling Sale, the May 1st deadline is fast approaching! (Posted April 25, 2008)
A notebook belonging to Phar Lap's trainer, Harry Telford, has recently been acquired by the Melbourne Museum for $37,000. The notebook contains records of the tonics and ointments that were used on Phar Lap. At the time, some of the things that were used as part of a regime for looking after a normal racehorse included arsenic, strychnine, belladonna, cocaine and caffeine. The notebook could be an important clue in what really killed Phar Lap.
Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 races including the 1930 Melbourne Cup and died at the Menlo Park Race Track in California in 1932. (Posted April 28, 2008)
