HBO Orders New Series Set in the Horse Racing World

Cable television network HBO has ordered a new series set in the horse racing world titled Luck. It stars Dustin Hoffman starring in the lead role, filmmaker Michael Mann directing the pilot and Deadwood screenwriter David Milch writing the script. Luck is billed as a provocative look at horse racing- the owners, the gamblers, jockeys and the diverse gaming industry players. The show begins production this fall at Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, CA and other Los Angeles locations. The remainder of the cast includes Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, RIchard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, Kerry COndon, Nick Nolte and Gary Stevens. (Posted July 22, 2010)

Tickets now on sale for Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala Induction Ceremony

Everyone is invited to honour the 2010 Inductees at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s 2010 Induction Ceremony and Gala Fundraising dinner on Thursday, August 19 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.  Tickets are now on sale and are $150 each or a table sponsorship is $1500 which includes eight seats plus a $300 donation to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees include six horses and four people: The thoroughbred inductees are Belmont Stakes’ winner Victory Gallop, along with Lady Angela, one of the most influential dams in breeding history, and multiple stakes winner Victorian Era in the Veterans category. They join Builder Mel Lawson and West Coast trainer/jockey Frank Barroby. The Standardbred inductees include Mister Big, the second richest pacer ever.  He is joined in the HOF by the outstanding broodmare Classic Wish along with trainer Robert McIntosh, builder Peter Heffering and A Worthy Lad in the Veterans category.

Your Induction Ceremony ticket includes a fabulous four course dinner as well as a silent auction plus a chance to win a state of the art television.

This year’s guest speaker is the hilarious Tim Steeves, a three-time Gemini award winning comedian, who is currently a staff writer for CBC Television’s number one comedy show, The Rick Mercer Report.

To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.horseracinghalloffame.com or contact 2010 Event Coordinator, Stacie Roberts at 416-230-5190 or info@aimcreative4u.com

(Posted July 22, 2010)

Racing For A Cause

Horses Excluded From Aid

The May issue of the Horse Industry Association of Alberta (HIAA) eNews,  announced that the Pasture Recovery Initiative (PRI) launched by the provincial and federal governments was available to horse producers. The press release for the initiative did include equine breeding stock, but horses have been excluded from this program other than PMU (none in Alberta) or horses raised specifically for meat. Other species included in the program are beef cattle, bison, elk, deer, llamas, sheep, goats, and alpacas. 
 
Alberta is horse country, home to some of the most respected purebred and commercial breeding operations in the world. Virtually all of them depend on grazing lands to make their efforts economical. The drought has had a significant impact on these operations and the same $60 per breeding animal allowed for PMU and meat horses would offer some much needed relief to the many producers of horses for sport and recreation.
 
The Horse Industry Association of Alberta has written to the Alberta Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Jack Hayden, to object to the exclusion of the vast majority of equine breeding stock from this vital recovery program. We encourage breeders and breed organizations in the province to do the same, with copies of letters sent to your MLAs.
 
Write to:
Honourable Jack Hayden
Legislature Office
#423 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB  T5K 2B6
 
Saskatchewan producers have also been excluded from this program, other than meat and PMU, and we encourage you to write to your Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture and local MLAs. (Updated July 20)