News June 2010

Ottawa, ON-Equine Canada wishes to announce the launch of a national telephone survey - the National Equine Industry Traceability Readiness Study. The study is one of two research and data gathering exercises that are being conducted during the development phase of the national equine identification and traceability program. The information gathered during the research exercises will be used to inform the creation and implementation of a national program that best serves the needs of Canadian horse owners and industry participants.

Data collection for the National Equine Industry Traceability Readiness Study will be conducted by Strategic Equine Inc. of Newmarket, Ontario, through telephone interviews with Canadian horse owners and industry participants from across the country. Those contacted by SEI will be selected randomly from membership lists provided by Canadian equine industry associations. Those who are contacted, and wish to participate, will be asked a series of questions about their horses and their participation in the industry. All information collected will be pooled for statistical analysis only.   Read the entire media release:      

National Equine Industry Traceability Readiness Study Began in May (((P(Posted Posted ((Posted June 16, 2010) 

 
2010 Graduation for the Olds College/HRA Certified Groom Training Program
The graduation for the most recent classes to complete the Olds College Groom Training and Exercise Rider & Jockey Training Program took place at Olds College on June 8, 2010. There are at least 30 past groom school graduates working in the industry and 24 past graduates of the Exercise Rider & Jockey Training Program galloping at Northlands right now. For more photos of the graduation, visit the CTHS Alberta site on Facebook. (Posted June 15, 2010)
Import Restrictions for Arizona
Due to the reported finding of horses infected with vesicular stomatitis (VS) in Arizona, US, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend the issuance or endorsement of export certificates for horses and other equines for all end-uses originating from the state of Arizona.

The imposed restrictions on the import of equidae into Canada from Arizona is effective immediately. The CFIA has confirmed that the import restrictions only apply to live horse, donkey or mule imports and not to equine semen or equine embryo imports. (Posted June 7, 2010)
  
Equibase News Service MEDIA ADVISORY 
Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators 
For May 2010 May 2010 vs. May 2009
Indicator May 2010 May 2009 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $1,261,910,423 $1,375,710,147 -8.27%
U.S. Purses $100,203,543 $105,273,920 -4.82%
U.S. Race Days 563 598 -5.85%
YTD 2010 vs. YTD 2009
Indicator YTD 2010 YTD 2009 % Change
Wagering on U.S. Races* $5,049,762,873 $5,511,118,045 -8.37%
U.S. Purses $376,607,075 $403,565,978 -6.68%
U.S. Race Days 2,044 2,194 -6.84%
* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. 
Contact: Rhonda Norby, Marketing and Communications Manager, (859) 224-2856 (Posted June 7, 2010)
THE JOCKEY CLUB DENIES STUD BOOK PRIVILEGES FOLLOWING HORSE CRUELTY JUDGMENT 

At its June 4, 2010, meeting, The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards voted to deny California residents Joan Bor, her son Ernie Bor, and his wife, Cecelia Bor, all privileges of The American Stud Book on a permanent basis effective January 1, 2011. 

This action was taken based upon information received by The Jockey Club’s Registrar, which included the judgment entered December 21, 2009, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Ventura in the matter of The People of the State of California vs. Bor (Case number 2008041817 F A) and pursuant to Section V, Rule 19(A)(4)(d) of the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book concerning acts of cruelty committed to a horse. Each individual was fined and sentenced to six months in jail. Denial of all privileges of The American Stud Book includes the privilege to register foals or submit any documents related to foal registration. The January 1, 2011, effective date allows registration of foals already conceived prior to the judgment.  
Ogden Mills Phipps, the chairman of The Jockey Club, said, “The Jockey Club fully supports and assists law enforcement agencies, the courts and racing regulatory authorities in the investigation of matters involving cruelty to Thoroughbreds. When there is a final determination by a court, an official tribunal or an official racing body that a person has killed, abandoned, mistreated, neglected or abused, or otherwise committed an act of cruelty to a horse, The Jockey Club will not hesitate to take appropriate action under Rule 19.”  

Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book is located at jockeyclub.com/registry.asp?section=3.  Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com. (Posted June 7, 2010)

The Cochrane Eagle -  A man facing charges under Alberta’s Animal Protection Act will be in Cochrane Provincial Court on June 11 after his case was adjourned on May 7. Robert Lorne Craig, 50, is accused of allowing animals to be in distress and failing to provide adequate food and care after the Alberta SPCA seized 33 horses from the Springbank area on Jan. 5. The horses, which showed signs of malnutrition and some of which also had medical conditions, have since been auctioned off. Lorne was charged under Alberta's Animal Protection Act. (Updated June 7, 2010)