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By Chief Stipe · Posted
The "good old days" being better than today winds me up. I think part of the problem is we THINK things were better but the difference is we didn't have all this information (much of which is negative) at our finger tips. The number of races that were televised in the 70's and 80's was very small. We didn't even have videos! I remember replaying vinyl record replays of my Dad's horses winning at Addington and then we moved to cassette tapes. When dad was living in Nelson his horse Dunhill was racing in the Timaru Challenge stakes in the early 80's - he couldn't get 3ZB where he was which was the only radio station broadcasting the races. So he rang me in Christchurch and I went around to my Uncle's and we held the phone to the radio so he could hear the race! The grass tracks were as rough as guts. It took an age to queue to get a bet on. But it WAS easy to set a horse up for a big punt! -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jes Sikura, son of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa president John Sikura, will be the new Director of Bloodstock at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, according to a Wednesday afternoon release from the Central Kentucky farm. The younger Sikura has spent the last two years working in the farm's bloodstock division while attending college. He recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in marketing. “Jes has demonstrated a great passion and acuity for the business,” said John Sikura. “He loves the farm and working with clients to serve their goals. This appointment is strictly about my belief in his integrity, ability, and commitment and has nothing to do with him being a 'Sikura'. It is rewarding to think that Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa can be a generational business fostered by such passion and love of place. We have a great tradition here of having exceptionally talented and committed people who have meant so much to our success. I expect Jes to do the same.” Jes Sikura added: “I am extremely excited to officially join the team at Hill 'n' Dale. I feel ready to join at a time of tremendous opportunity. We have a lot to look forward to in the immediate future, from launching and managing the careers of several of our important young stallions to building on the momentum of a monumental year in 2025 which saw Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency top both Keeneland September and the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. In addition, Hill 'n' Dale acquired an ownership interest in Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who has joined our elite broodmare band. I will be enthusiastically working towards the bright future we have here.” The post Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa Welcomes Jes Sikura as Director of Bloodstock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Murray Fish · Posted
tick... it does take a effort! Sigh, sadly, I could add, because the days of asking the right person at Head Office, for any facts and figures are now well gone! I think that is the base for some of that RN. (re things racing). plus, "oh for the good old days..." As ever, on a personal; level! how does one play ones cards? be it betting, ownership! playing around on a racing site like this! If you interest is in 'employment in Industry', then $1.10 you be looking like so many others! over in AU. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, trainer Carlos Acosta, Jr. has been banned a combined four years and fined a combined $25,000 after out-of-competition hair and blood samples taken in April from his trainees, Storm Leader and Tucum, tested positive for Albuterol, a banned bronchodilator. At the time of the required testing, both horses were stabled at a private farm near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Acosta reportedly refused to allow HIWU personnel access to the private farm and instead took the horses to Albuquerque Downs Racetrack for testing. According to a final decision signed by case arbitrator Barbara Reeves, Karina Gonzalez, the owner of Storm Leader and Tucum, initially explained that their regular licensed veterinarian, Lane Dixon, had examined the horses and prescribed Albuterol to be administered via an inhaler, due to the horses suffering exercised-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Though classed a banned substance, Albuterol is permitted only if it was given as an inhaled bronchodilator, and only if it was also prescribed by a licensed veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-patient-client relationship, according to HISA rules. Furthermore, HISA requires anyone who medically treats a “Covered Horse” to report every treatment to the HISA portal within 24 hours. According to the final ruling, there are no Albuterol treatments reported in the HISA portal for Storm Leader and Tucum. During the adjudication process, Acosta forwarded to HIWU a single email, purportedly from Dixon, to say that he had been prescribed Albuterol due to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, the final decision states. Gonzalez also testified that she paid Dixon in cash for his services. Acosta, however, did not call or subpoena Dixon to testify at the hearing, “nor did he produce or subpoena veterinary records from Dr. Dixon,” the final decision states. Furthermore, after being told that authentic medical records would need to be produced to be part of a valid case, Gonzalez reportedly changed her argument to claim her horses had been intentionally contaminated, according to the final decision. Acosta's four-year ban started on Dec. 29. According to Equibase, he has trained on and off since 2013. He has 62 career wins to his name from 439 starts. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 12/30/2025 Licensee: Nick Canani, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Bloodline, who finished sixth at Churchill Downs on 11/6/25. Dates: 12/30/2025 Licensee: Jamie Ness, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 31, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Uncle Irish, who finished second at Laurel Park on 9/13/25. Dates: 12/29/2025 Licensee: Carlos Acosta, Jr., trainer Penalty: Combined 4-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 29, 2025; a fine of $25,000. Final decision of arbitral body. Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Albuterol–a banned bronchodilator–in samples taken from Storm Leader on 4/22/25; and from Tucum on 4/22/25. Pending ADMC Violations 12/30/2025, Carlos Rafael Figueroa, Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Foxy Cara, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 11/19/25. 12/30/2025, Jeremiah Englehart, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Oxymorphone–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Neigh Baby, who finished second at Belmont at the Big A on 10/9/25. 12/29/2025, George Lopez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole and Methocarbamol–both class C controlled substances–in a sample taken from Tiz Lissett on 11/26/25. 12/29/2025, Kieron Magee, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Neolithica, who won at Laurel Park on 10/11/25. The post National Rulings December 27 – 31, Carlos Acosta Banned 4 Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Horse Racing Alberta has approved the 2026 budget, reflecting a disciplined approach in response to current economic conditions while maintaining strong support for the province's racing and breeding industries.View the full article
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