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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Michael Willman, a former publicity director who worked at Santa Anita Park for nearly two decades, has sued the racetrack, its ownership, and several management executives, alleging that he was fired in March 2024 under the pretext of using inappropriate language when making an off-color joke to a subordinate, but that the “real reason” he was terminated was for refusing to participate in a purported cover-up of alleged mismanagement following a series of highly publicized horse fatalities that occurred at Santa Anita in 2019. According to the civil complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Willman is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against Santa Anita and its owner, The Stronach Group (TSG). Specifically named as defendants are Belinda Stronach (TSG's chairman, chief executive officer and president), Aidan Butler (the chief executive officer of TSG's 1/ST Racing and Gaming), and Amy Zimmerman (the senior vice president and executive producer for the media team). Willman, 67, wants a jury trial and is suing for damages related to “lost employment income and benefits” and for “pain and suffering.” Willman's lawsuit summarized his allegations: “[Willman] was and had been the main point of contact for all the news organizations that were following the tragic surge in horse fatalities that erupted in 2019 and continued thereafter. As the evidence will show, Plaintiff's career was ended because Defendants knew he wouldn't lie or mislead the public, the regulators or the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, and defendants assumed, falsely, that at his age, they could destroy his career and his credibility and he wouldn't be able to fight back,” the complaint stated. “Plaintiff, as a long-term employee who was loyal to the defendants, resisted those attempts to put out false narratives to deflect responsibility for the horse deaths. Plaintiff believed it was his legal duty to tell the truth or face possible prosecution for deliberately misleading government regulators, investigators and the public trust,” the complaint stated. “Defendants directly and indirectly instructed Plaintiff to mislead government investigators, regulators and the public about what was really going on and at a minimum confuse and obfuscate so that the public would never find out the reasons why so many horses were dying,” the complaint stated. “Defendants' attitude towards Plaintiff changed when Mercury Crisis Management was brought in by defendants to quarterback messaging in March of 2019,” the complaint stated. Following a 2020 shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, when operations began again, “Plaintiff noticed a definite change of attitude from his superiors. They began looking for a justification to undermine his credibility and then to fire him,” the complaint stated. On Mar. 5, 2024, Willman's suit stated, he was placed on administrative leave after a subordinate complained that he had made an off-color joke that offended the subordinate. Seventeen days later, the lawsuit contended, Willman was “wrongfully” terminated for using the off-color language, and he was further accused “of using a derogatory term in reference to another Santa Anita executive” in a private conversation. “The proffered justification for terminating Plaintiff's employment was completely pretextual and done to retaliate against Plaintiff and to destroy his credibility by then being able to claim he was a 'disgruntled' bad former employee,” the complaint stated. “In doing the things herein alleged, the individual defendants acting for and on behalf of the corporate defendants, and with their full power and authority, acted with malice, fraud and oppression to defame and destroy Plaintiff's reputation and career doing everything in their power to make it as difficult as possible for Plaintiff to survive,” the complaint stated. “They even attempted to prevent Plaintiff from receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits.” The defendants in the lawsuit have not yet filed a written legal response to tell their side of the story. In response to a request for comment, Zimmerman told TDN that, “I welcome the opportunity to have the truth come out in the appropriate setting and at the appropriate time.” According to the court docket, the next scheduled action is an Apr. 17 case management conference. The post Former PR Director Sues Santa Anita For Alleged Wrongful Firing Related To 2019 Horse Deaths Crisis 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
Moyglare Stud provided the jewels in the crown of the Goffs February Sale when two well-bred colts by hot stallions Blue Point (Ire) and Study Of Man (Ire) sold for a combined €415,000, which accounted for just over 10 per cent of the entire turnover at Kildare Paddocks this week. It was the Blue Point colt out of Dansili (GB) mare Tina Angelina (Ire) who commanded a sale-topping €250,000 when selling to Tally-Ho Stud while Matt Coleman–signing under The Investors–landed the Study Of Man for €165,000. All told, the turnover for the Goffs February Sale climbed 25% to €3,857,500 while the average was up 40% to €18,026. Meanwhile, the median climbed 25% to €10,000 and the clearance rate also rose by 2% to 67%. “They were two lovely foals,” is how Moyglare Stud's Fiona Craig summed up lots 266 and 267. “The lads at home did a great job on them during the winter. We had eight here in November and they all sold great, but the Blue Point was an April foal and looked a bit loose, and the Study Of Man was not quite big enough, so we decided to bring them here. They have stood out.” Tina Angelina is a full-sister to Carla Bianca (Ire), who won two Group 3 races when in training with Dermot Weld. She has already produced a black-type performer in Emilie Gray (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and is from the family of Moyglare's Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Meanwhile, the Study Of Man colt hails from Dark Angel (Ire) mare Titanium Sky (Ire), who placed at Listed level and has already produced a Group performer in Sparkling Sea (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). “We need to get our numbers down and hence the last couple of years we have been selling colt foals,” Craig continued. “We can't sell yearlings; no one wants yearlings from us. The buyers have now learned that we are selling them and not buying them back. They have worked out that we are not valuing them, we are not putting on silly reserves and they are here to be sold.” Craig added, “I greatly appreciate the buyers, because it was such a struggle for a long time. Now they have worked out that we are selling them and that they are nice horses. If they had made a hundred [thousand] each, I'd have been doing handstands. One was a £12,500 stud fee and the other, at the time, a €35,000 fee. “The easiest way for us to get the numbers down is to sell colt foals. We had too many horses–we built up during Covid. We will sell some next November, and probably the November after that, and then we will be down to about the right number. These are nice foals, and typical of what we have in the fields at home. We kept about five colts and they will be divided up, and kept all the fillies.” Plans for the Blue Point remain somewhat up in the air with Tally-Ho boss Tony O'Callaghan simply saying, “We'll take him home and see what happens. We've plenty of options and he is a nice foal who came from a very good home.” Meanwhile, Roger O'Callaghan confirmed himself a big fan of the stallion, who of course is the sire of Tally-Ho Stud's newbie Big Evs (Ire). He also went on to hint that the family have one or two nice breeze-up prospects by the stallion in their care. He said, “We've had a bit of luck with his Dad [Blue Point] and we like him. I'd say we might have a bit more luck with him [Blue Point], too, in April [at the breeze-ups].” The Study Of Man colt was described by Coleman as “the best-looking weanling” in the sale. He said, “I have a lot of respect for Study Of Man as a stallion, a sire that has been doing it the hard way. He has not had a lot of runners on the track, and he has obviously got quality stakes horses, and I think he is a stallion who will do better and better over the coming years. “He has Kalpana as his star filly who will be running in a lot og Group 1s this season, and will be his flagship. He is a good son of Deep Impact.” Coleman added, “I thought he was the best looking weanling here over the two days. Moyglare needs no introduction as a nursery to raise good racehorses, and the dam is black-type, Sparkling Sea [half-sister] is black-type. So he has all the ingredients to be a good racehorse in the future. He is going back to the UK and then I will speak to the client. I am not sure what his plans are. He was a horse I highlighted yesterday and the one we targeted. Delighted we got and and as always he made the max of what we wanted to give for him, but that is always the way.” Despite kicking off 2025 in a hugely positive fashion, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby once again paid tribute to His Highness The Aga Khan, who died this week at the age of 88, in his chairman's statements. Beeby also put the good trade into context when offering his prayers for jockey Michael O'Sullivan, who was airlifted to hospital following a fall at Thurles on Thursday. Beeby said, “Goffs February invariably kicks off the year at Kildare Paddocks in a most positive vein and 2025 is no exception. We have welcomed a huge and diverse contingent of buyers from home and abroad who have contributed to two days of strength and depth to confirm the sale as the clear market leader at this time of year. Indeed, the top seven weanlings (nine of the top 10) and the highest priced mares this winter (eight of the top 10) clearly illustrate the enduring appeal of this event leading one leading vendor to state “Why would I sell anywhere else as they make more money here!?”. These results continue the trends at superb renewals of our recent November and December NH Sales, both also market leaders in their own right. “It is fair to say though that trade has proved selective so those that held the most appeal were harder than ever to buy but the market was unforgiving if there were any perceived weaknesses in individual or pedigree. Such is the global bloodstock market at the moment.” He added, “As ever, we are indebted to every vendor for every entry as we are nothing without their horses whilst it is always a pleasure to welcome all our purchasers. It is gratifying that so many enjoy the unrivalled customer experience the Goffs team and ITM provide each time and that brought buyers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Libya, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, USA and, of course, the UK and Ireland. “Whilst the business of the day can be all consuming, we have been at least partly distracted by events at Thurles this afternoon. Michael O'Sullivan is a friend to many of the team here and he is in our prayers. “Finally, we repeat our sincere condolences to the family of His Highness the Aga Khan who will be mourned by so many, not least all of us at Goffs. Not only was he our largest shareholder for many years, but he was also a source of much sage advice, wholehearted support and enormous encouragement to us especially in tougher times when his personal backing was so vital to the Company. Many words have been written and spoken since the sad news came through, but I suggest one word probably sums him up as much as any: Inspirational.” The post Moyglare’s Blue Point Colt Heads Goffs February Sale At 250k To Tally-Ho Stud 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
A strong performance by local hopeful Naughty Rascal in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs could result in the colt advancing to the track's annual showcase event, the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Three wildcards have been added to the catalogue for the Arqana February Mixed Sale, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 12. The three additions include three-year-old filly Alpine Beauty (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who will be offered by Nicolas Clement as lot 190. The unraced Alpine Beauty is out of the winning Sadler's Wells mare Arosa (Ire), a full-sister to the Group winners Crimson Tide (Ire) and Tamarind (Ire). Arosa is the dam of four winners from eight runners to date, including the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Technician (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Anne-Sophie Pacault's Pique Dame (Fr) (Night Wish {Ger}) will go under the hammer as lot 270 following her victory over hurdles at Pau last week, while Christophe Ferland will offer Scent Of A Woman (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}) as lot 275. The three-year-old Scent Of A Woman became the fifth winner from seven runners out of the G3 Prix de Flore heroine Albisola (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) when gaining her first career success at Deauville last month. The post Three Wildcards Added to Arqana February Mixed Sale 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
Racing was abandoned after the second race at Thurles on Thursday after Michael O'Sullivan was airlifted to hospital following a last-fence fall from Wee Charlie (Ire). The Grade 1-winning jockey received medical attention on the track before being transferred to Cork University Hospital. The eight-year-old Wee Charlie was one of three fallers at the last in the two-mile Racing Again February 20th Handicap Chase. The two other runners were badly hampered and unseated their riders. An update posted on X by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board read, “Michael O'Sullivan was treated by the medical team on track at Thurles Races prior to the air ambulance arriving. “Due to the ongoing medical situation at the time, the Raceday Stewards made the decision to abandon the remainder of the card. “Michael was stabilised prior to being transferred by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital.” O'Sullivan rode two winners at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, including Marine Nationale (Ire) in the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The post Jockey Michael O’Sullivan Hospitalised After Thurles Fall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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