Posted: 7:28 PM Dec 30, 2009
Freedom's Flight is a beautiful thoroughbred with an impressive pedigree. His bloodlines can be traced to two of the greatest race horses of all time, Seattle Slew and Secretariat.
Reporter: CNN
Font Size: Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Freedom's Flight is a beautiful thoroughbred with an impressive pedigree. His bloodlines can be traced to two of the greatest race horses of all time, Seattle Slew and Secretariat.
But, unlike his kinship, Freedom's Flight's racing career ended before it had even started. It was almost two years ago when the thoroughbred's leg snapped right out of the gate at Miami's Gulfstream race track. The animal's days as a cherished racehorse came to an abrupt end.
"He came from the famous Clairborne farm and ended up on one of the worst farms in America," says new owner Richard "Kudo" Couto.
That "worst" farm in America turned out to be an illegal slaughter farm in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Couto, working for the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, participated in a raid on the farm and rescued Freedom's Flight. The timing of that rescue may have saved Freedom's Flight's life. The horse was limping around on his broken leg, he had sores on his body, and you could see his bones protruding from his dirty coat.
Some 18 months since his rescue, Freedom's Flight looks more like the stunning race horse that was worth thousands of dollars than the injured horse that was sold for $50 to an illegal slaughter farm.
"Prior to his rescue, I didn't know that illegal slaughter farms existed in the country -- let alone under my nose in my own county," says Couto.
This new knowledge has motivated Couto. "It really made me buckle down and basically dedicate my life to shut this industry down. It's become personal for me," he says.
Couto suspects that there are more than 100 illegal slaughterhouses in the area. There is only one slaughterhouse that operates legally, Cabrera's, and there the United States Department of Agriculture inspectors are housed on its property.
Many of these illegal places are concentrated in an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County. The roads are dirt, the vegetation thick and uninviting. This is the western fringe of Miami along the rim of the Everglades, an area considered a sort of no-man's land.
There are signs in English and in Spanish advertising animals for sale. Tarps are put up to hide what is behind the chain link fences, but most of these businesses are open to the public. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist after walking the properties and seeing the dead carcasses, the guts in the trash bins, the slaughter tables, the knives -- all of the tools of running this type of operation is right in front of you," says Couto.
CNN visited several of these establishments. At one location where a pig was being carved on one table and a chicken on the other, we asked to film on the property. "This slaughterhouse isn't as clean as you can see, try Cabrera's," said the unidentified man behind the slaughter table. Like several places we visited there was blood on the floor, dirty butcher knives and an overwhelming stench.
Couto says it isn't the slaughtering of animals that has put him on this mission. It's the way the animals are treated.
"These animals are living in extreme filth. They're beaten. The way they're slaughtered is inhumane," says Couto.
Couto has been on a one-man crusade to shut down illegal slaughterhouses that are operating without licenses and without oversight by the health or agriculture departments. He was first exposed to what he calls the "dark underbelly" of the area when, with the Florida SPCA, he was investigating the slaughter of horses for their meat.
Motivated by Freedom's Flight, Couto left the South Florida SPCA to form his own organization called ARM -- Animal Recovery Mission.
For the past year he has used a video camera to collect evidence. Couto has simply walked right into dozens of slaughterhouses and has filmed bloody slaughter tables.
"I go in acting like a customer," he says, "I ask them, 'How much for the pig?' And they'll say 120 dollars. 'How much for the kill?' '20 bucks. We'll slaughter it for you for 20 bucks.' It's that easy."
One local agency that spends a lot of time in the area because sections of it are considered protected wetland is the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management. Carlos Espinosa is in charge of enforcing the county's environmental regulations.
"When we come across other issues relating to other departments, we pass that information on to other departments," says Espinosa.
Couto took his story and his videos to every local agency he could think of with oversight responsibility. He tried to set up a task force with agencies in charge of violations such as animal cruelty, illegal structures, illegal businesses, permit problems and zoning issues. A sign-in sheet from one of these meetings shows many of the agencies attended the meeting, but Couto says nothing came of it.
CNN contacted Miami-Dade Animal Services Department, an agency that had a representative at that meeting. Spokesperson Xiomara Mordcovich said the agency does not deal with issues involving farm animals and directed us to the Miami-Dade Police Department.
The Police Department declined an interview. "We are not actively investigating any incidents involving illegal slaughterhouses," the department said in an e-mail. Then it referred us back to Animal Services and also to the code compliance department.
Charles Danger, director of the Miami-Dade Building and Neighborhood Compliance Department, admits that it was because of Couto's persistence that it is now putting together a multi-agency task force he called "Operation Miss Piggy and Mr. Ed."
According to Danger, part of the reason nothing has been done to clean up this area is because of fear for the safety of inspectors.
"Every time we go in there, we have to go in there with the police -- and even the police don't want to go in there," says Danger.
Danger says the Miami-Dade Police Department is now on the new task force, which also includes agencies such as the state health department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "It comes from a lot of years of illegal operation. We have to do it together because it's not going to be easy," says Danger.
One organization that will keep tabs on the progress is the Animal Recovery Mission. Couto says he will not go away quietly. He calls his mission "redemption and revenge for Freedom's Flight and what he went through."
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
NYRA announces anti-slaughter policy
Well its about time! NYS has thee most lucrative breeding incentives in the world,....it is the least they can do.
SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York Racing Association is cracking the whip on owners and trainers who sell their horses to slaughter.
NYRA announced a new policy Thursday -- a month after NewsChannel 13 reported that the organization didn't have written rules regarding slaughter.
While they're racing and winning, they often live the good life. After they've lost their value, it's possible for racehorses to end up at slaughterhouses -- strung up, throats slashed and allowed to bleed out.
More Information:
NYRA Details Anti-Slaughter Policy
Related Stories:
Part 1: Home stretch for thoroughbreds
Part 2: Life after the track
The movement to make sure racehorses don't end up slaughtered for food gained momentum when NYRA adopted strict new no-slaughter rules.
The new NYRA policy says any owner or trainer who sells a horse to slaughter will lose his barn privileges permanently.
"Horse slaughter will not be tolerated and those participating in this practice, either knowingly or for lack of due diligence, will not be welcome at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said in a statement.
This policy is a personal victory for John Hendrickson of Marylou Whitney Stables. Shortly after NewsChannel 13 told the story of racehorse slaughter in late October, Hendrickson took the issue to his fellow NYRA board members.
"They were very receptive. There's nobody that's for slaughter," Hendrickson said.
According to the humane society, up to 20 percent of all thoroughbreds end up slaughtered. The thoroughbred retirement foundation works to save racehorses and welcomes NYRA's new no-tolerance policy.
"This sends the absolute right message to owners and breeders, saying we have to think about these horses for their whole lives, not just when they're on the track trying to make money for us," said Diana Pikulski of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Click on title above for original article and video;
http://www.topix.com/forum/sports/horse-racing/TV5L6UAUNQ9H9O40K
SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York Racing Association is cracking the whip on owners and trainers who sell their horses to slaughter.
NYRA announced a new policy Thursday -- a month after NewsChannel 13 reported that the organization didn't have written rules regarding slaughter.
While they're racing and winning, they often live the good life. After they've lost their value, it's possible for racehorses to end up at slaughterhouses -- strung up, throats slashed and allowed to bleed out.
More Information:
NYRA Details Anti-Slaughter Policy
Related Stories:
Part 1: Home stretch for thoroughbreds
Part 2: Life after the track
The movement to make sure racehorses don't end up slaughtered for food gained momentum when NYRA adopted strict new no-slaughter rules.
The new NYRA policy says any owner or trainer who sells a horse to slaughter will lose his barn privileges permanently.
"Horse slaughter will not be tolerated and those participating in this practice, either knowingly or for lack of due diligence, will not be welcome at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said in a statement.
This policy is a personal victory for John Hendrickson of Marylou Whitney Stables. Shortly after NewsChannel 13 told the story of racehorse slaughter in late October, Hendrickson took the issue to his fellow NYRA board members.
"They were very receptive. There's nobody that's for slaughter," Hendrickson said.
According to the humane society, up to 20 percent of all thoroughbreds end up slaughtered. The thoroughbred retirement foundation works to save racehorses and welcomes NYRA's new no-tolerance policy.
"This sends the absolute right message to owners and breeders, saying we have to think about these horses for their whole lives, not just when they're on the track trying to make money for us," said Diana Pikulski of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Click on title above for original article and video;
http://www.topix.com/forum/sports/horse-racing/TV5L6UAUNQ9H9O40K
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ohio Standardbred Barn Fire Kills 2 Men, 42 Horses
Horse owners stood stunned as they watched heavy machinery peel back the metal roof of the collapsed structure so firefighters could sift through the debris and extinguish what remained of the blaze. -- PHOTO: AP
LEBANON (Ohio) - A FIRE ripped through a horse barn at a county fairgrounds Saturday in southwest Ohio, killing two men and 43 horses, authorities said.
The barn roof had already collapsed by the time firefighters arrived at the Warren County Fairgrounds early Saturday morning, according to Capt. Krista Wyatt of the Lebanon Fire Department.
The bodies of the men were pulled from the barn and were badly burned, said Shane Cartmill, a spokesman for the Ohio State Fire Marshal. Cartmill was unable to confirm the identities late Saturday.
A horse owner identified the men as Ronnie Williams and James Edwards, both trainers at a harness racing racetrack based at the fairgrounds. Victor Gray, who owned three of the horses that died, said he'd known Williams nearly 40 years. Lamar Moody, lead trainer at Lebanon Raceway, said two of his employees were not accounted for.
No one was supposed to be in the stables overnight and it was not clear if the two men killed were working early or sleeping in the barn. 'It's a terrible situation,' said Gray. 'This is something that didn't have to happen.' The cause of the blaze was under investigation, but state fire investigators say they have ruled out criminal intent.
Horse owners stood stunned as they watched heavy machinery peel back the metal roof of the collapsed structure so firefighters could sift through the debris and extinguish what remained of the blaze. The horses weren't pets but nonetheless were 'part of the family, our kids,' Gray said. 'We loved those horses.' In 1988, a fire in a similar part of the county-owned racetrack and fairgrounds killed 35 horses. No one was killed in that fire. -- AP
LEBANON (Ohio) - A FIRE ripped through a horse barn at a county fairgrounds Saturday in southwest Ohio, killing two men and 43 horses, authorities said.
The barn roof had already collapsed by the time firefighters arrived at the Warren County Fairgrounds early Saturday morning, according to Capt. Krista Wyatt of the Lebanon Fire Department.
The bodies of the men were pulled from the barn and were badly burned, said Shane Cartmill, a spokesman for the Ohio State Fire Marshal. Cartmill was unable to confirm the identities late Saturday.
A horse owner identified the men as Ronnie Williams and James Edwards, both trainers at a harness racing racetrack based at the fairgrounds. Victor Gray, who owned three of the horses that died, said he'd known Williams nearly 40 years. Lamar Moody, lead trainer at Lebanon Raceway, said two of his employees were not accounted for.
No one was supposed to be in the stables overnight and it was not clear if the two men killed were working early or sleeping in the barn. 'It's a terrible situation,' said Gray. 'This is something that didn't have to happen.' The cause of the blaze was under investigation, but state fire investigators say they have ruled out criminal intent.
Horse owners stood stunned as they watched heavy machinery peel back the metal roof of the collapsed structure so firefighters could sift through the debris and extinguish what remained of the blaze. The horses weren't pets but nonetheless were 'part of the family, our kids,' Gray said. 'We loved those horses.' In 1988, a fire in a similar part of the county-owned racetrack and fairgrounds killed 35 horses. No one was killed in that fire. -- AP
Sunday, July 19, 2009
HorsePac: An UnHoly Alliance of Pro-Slaughter Equine Industrialists
In this loosley disguised "HorseSlaughterPac," you will "meet the money" behind the campaigns to keep horse slaughter going; this is what we are up against in Congress.
Message from the president
March 11, 2008
Horse PAC enjoyed its widest support in 2007. With receipts of $347,604 in 2007, Horse PAC ended the year with $490,793 in cash on hand. A record 221 NTRA members contributed to the PAC this year. We thank them for their constancy and support.
The Horse PAC Board also welcomed four new Directors during 2007: George B. Bolton, Marc W. Dunbar, Robert S. Evans and J. Kenneth Luke, bringing the total number of directors to 18 for 2007. Horse PAC may have up to 25 Board members.
Horse PAC disbursements in 2007 were $294,500, a record for a non-election year. The PAC supported 10 of the "freshmen" Members elected at the start of the 2006/2007 Congressional cycle and in all, supported 84 individual candidates from 34 states.
The PAC’s most important determinant for giving remains a candidate’s Committee membership. Horse PAC’s support was spread across key committees that oversee the pari-mutuel horse racing and breeding industries, including Agriculture, Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Finance, Homeland Security and Judiciary.
Reaffirming Horse PAC’s mission to support only Federal political candidates and parties at the Congressional level, the Board of Directors in 2007 unanimously passed a resolution barring Horse PAC contributions to United States Presidential candidates.
As we look forward to 2008, we anticipate yet another season of growth for Horse PAC, which continues to be the largest gaming PAC after just five and a half years of operations.
With an election year upon us and a number of key legislative issues still to be addressed in the 110th Congress, we expect an active year on multiple fronts in Washington, D.C. A summary of our key legislative issues and activities in 2007 appears on pages 15 through 18 of this report.
We encourage you to keep abreast of our efforts on Capitol Hill by visiting our Web site, www.SupportHorseRacing.org. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
Table of Contents
Message from the PAC President..................................1
Board of Directors ................................................................2
About Horse PAC ................................................................3
Receipts ......................................................................................4
Contributors...............................................................................5
Disbursements ........................................................................7
Legislative Summary.............................................................15
2007 horse pacboard of directors
In 2006, the by-laws of Horse PAC were amended to allow up to 25 members on the Board of Directors. Directors are appointed by the PAC President. The 2007 Horse PAC Board consisted of:
William S. Farish, Jr., Chairman
Antony Beck
George B. Bolton
Case Clay
Laura A. D’Angelo
Marc W. Dunbar
Robert Elliston
Robert S. Evans
Tracy Farmer
Terrence P. Finley
Lucy Young Hamilton
John C. Harris
F. Jack Liebau, Jr.
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Terence J. Meyocks
Anne W. Poulson
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
NTRA President and CEO, ex officio
Peggy Hendershot
President & Treasurer
Barbara Fossum
Assistant Treasurer
about horse pac
Horse PAC is the Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The Committee was activated in 2002 to promote and facilitate the accumulation of voluntary contributions from members of the NTRA and its subsidiaries and affiliates, for the support of political parties and candidates for elective office in the United States. The Committee is dedicated to the support of candidates who have taken responsible positions on issues involving the Thoroughbred racing industry. As a multi-issue PAC, the Committee gives strategic support to federal political candidates who:
• Serve on Congressional committees that oversee livestock and agricultural issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act
• Are established leaders and control Congressional leadership PACs
• Endorse tax legislation benefiting race horse owners, breeders, players and businesses
• Have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers and other equine venues in their districts
• Are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus
• Are emerging leaders meriting "early support"
Key Congressional Committees for the Thoroughbred Industry
Committee
House/Senate
Issue(s)
Agriculture
House and Senate
Livestock, equine identification, Farm Bill
Appropriations
House and Senate
Bills serve as vehicles for other provisions
Banking
Senate
Internet gaming
Senate
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Energy & Commerce
House
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Finance
Senate
Taxes and trade
Financial Services
House
Taxes and trade
Homeland Security
House and Senate
Security for major racing events; anti-terrorism measures affecting consumers; immigration
Judiciary
House and Senate
Internet gaming, immigration
Ways & Means
House
Taxes and trade
Commerce, Science & Technology
receipts
From inception through December 31, 2007, Horse PAC has raised $1,842,970. The committee raised $731,724 for the 2003/04 election cycle and $724,538 for the 2005/06 election cycle.
Horse PAC Annual Receipts, 2002-007
In 2007 Horse PAC continued to lead all gaming PACs by receipts.
gaming pacs receipts
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Champions – $5,000
Josephine E. Abercrombie
Lee & Carmen Ackerley
John W. Amerman
Craig Bandoroff
Ramona Seeligson Bass
Angela Levy Beck
Bill & Susan Casner
Case B. Clay
Robert & Blythe Clay
CTBA PAC
Adele B. Dilschneider
C. Steven Duncker
Robert S. Evans
Sarah S. Farish
William S. Farish, Jr.
William S. Farish, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Tracy Farmer
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Ford
Mr. & Mrs. William Hamilton
Seth Hancock
Debbie Hancock
John C. Harris
William Heiligbrodt
R.D. Hubbard
E.J & Lynne Hudson, Jr.
G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.
Brereton Jones
Dr. Gary B. Knapp
Beverly Lewis
F. Jack Liebau, Sr.
Maureen O. Luke
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Robert McNair
Ogden M. Phipps
Arthur F. Preston
Michael L. Rankowitz
Satish & Anne Sanan
Ronald J. Sellitto
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Mace Siegel
Samantha Siegel
Smithfield Foods, Inc. PAC
Stuart & Anita Subotnick
William T. Young, Jr.
Winners – $,500 - $4,999
Ron Crockett
Martin Cunningham
Hugh A. Fitzsimons, Jr.
E.K. Gaylord
Helen K. Groves
Waddell W. Hancock, II
Elizabeth Jones
Robert V. LaPenta
Jeffrey & Margery Lewis
Carl F. Pollard
James & Mary Treptow
Robert B. Trussell, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
Randy Zeller
Leaders – $1,000 - $,499
Gregory C. Avioli
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Barber
Mrs. John Bell, III
Bob Bork
Nicholas Brady
James C. Brady
Mr. & Mrs. Chester Broman, Sr.
Darrell & Lendy Brown
John Brooks
Alexander G. Campbell
Thomas Clark
Deborah A. Easter
Lee R. Einsidler
Robert N. Elliston
Terrence & Debbie Finley
David C. Fogg
Mr. & Mrs. Mustapha Fostock
Thomas Gaines
Martha F. Gerry
Thomas Henrion
Ian Highet
Richard C. Imbert
Barry Irwin
Charles Kidder
John K. Leonard
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ludt
Robert Manfuso
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Matz
Kiaran McLaughlin
James & Lisa Means
Terence J. Meyocks
Jerry Moss
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Nicholson
Phillip T. O’Hara
Paul Oreffice
John C. Oxley
Raymond Paulick
Robert Penchina
Nancy Polk
Daniel M. Rosenberg
Paul Saylor
Barry K. Schwartz
Fred Seitz
Michael & Lyn Shanley
James Squires
Beverly Steinman
Robert J. Terry
Stella Ferguson Thayer
Elizabeth Valando
D.G. Van Clief, Jr.
Peter S. Willmott
David & Holly Wilson
Jack Wolf
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Supporters – Up To - $999
Stephen & Laura Avakian
Stephen J. Barberino, Jr.
John H. Barr
Ruth Bedford
Theodore J. Berge
Stacy S. Berge
Gary Biszantz
Frank Bonsal, Jr.
Peter Bradley
Niall Brennan
Bob R. Brooks
J. Mark Burton
Thomas Capehart
Keith E. Card
Keith Chamblin & Laura D’Angelo
Mrs. Roy Chapman
Ellen MacNeille Charles
Sherwood Chillingworth
Cindy Clark
Catesby W. Clay
Mark Corrado
Brian Culnan
Douglas Dean
Marvin Delfiner
David & Christy DiPietro
M.E. Dowell
Mr. & Mrs. Charles DuBose
Christopher Elser
William Entenmann
Tom Evans
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Feldman
Brent & Crystal Fernung
Joseph Flara
Rob & Jolene Fullerton
Jim D. Gallagher
Elbridge T. Gerry, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Green
F. William Gue
Emory A. Hamilton
Vern Heath
Margaret Hendershot
Carolyn Hine
Neil Howard
Bruce Hundley
Robert G. Irvin
Jim D. Jackson
Annie Jones
Bill Justice
Syl Kiger
Caesar P. Kimmel
Patricia A. Klussman
Theodore Kuster
David L. Kyger
John & Louise Lally
William & Sally Landes
Louisa Lenehan
Lara Levine
Bertram Linder
W. Bruce Lunsford
Willliam Maley
Frank Mansell
Dr. Merritt W. Marrs, Jr.
Jaqueline Badger Mars
Tony Metaxas
A. Stevens Miles, Jr.
Maurleen V. Miller
MacKenzie Miller
John & Susan Moore
Mark Moran
Edmund Mudge, IV
Joanne R. Mummert
Frances Myers
John Nash
John A. Nerud
Howard C. Nolan, Jr.
William Parsons, Jr.
John W. Phillips
James A. Philpott, Jr.
Cynthia Phipps
Todd & Tracy Pletcher
Kjell H. Qvale
Dr. David Richardson
Dr. Jack K. Robbins
Josh Rubinstein
Andrew Sauve
Chris Scherf
Peter G. Schiff
Mitchell L. Schlossman
Allen Schubert
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Smith
George Strawbridge, Jr.
John Stuart
John M. Sullivan, Jr.
Ted Taylor
Peter Van Andel
Dr. Glen C. Warren
Wheelock Whitney
Ward Williford
Henry A. Zeitlin
ntra advantage
Contributors to Horse PAC are eligible for significant savings on nationally known products like John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, UPS and more through NTRA Advantage. When you use NTRA Advantage vendors, a portion of your purchase prices goes to support the equine industry. To enjoy the benefits of group purchasing and one-stop buying, call toll-free at (866) 678-4289 or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com.
or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by Amount*
State
Amount
Rank
KY
$37,500
1
CA
$20,500
2
NY
$19,000
3
TX
$15,000
4
AR
$11,000
5
OH
$10,000
6
VA
$9,500
7
MI
$7,500
8
OR
$7,500
9
GA
$7,000
10
LA
$7,000
11
FL
$6,500
12
IA
$6,000
13
TN
$6,000
14
PA
$5,500
15
AL
$5,000
16
MN
$5,000
17
MT
$5,000
18
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
SC
$5,000
21
IL
$3,500
22
KS
$3,500
23
MS
$3,500
24
UT
$3,500
25
IN
$3,000
26
NJ
$2,500
27
NC
$2,000
28
CO
$1,000
29
ME
$1,000
30
NM
$1,000
31
OK
$1,000
32
SD
$1,000
33
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by State*
State
Amount
Rank
AL
$5,000
16
AR
$11,000
5
CA
$20,500
2
CO
$1,000
29
FL
$6,500
12
GA
$7,000
10
IA
$6,000
13
IL
$3,500
22
IN
$3,000
26
KS
$3,500
23
KY
$37,500
1
LA
$7,000
11
ME
$1,000
30
MI
$7,500
8
MN
$5,000
17
MS
$3,500
24
MT
$5,000
18
NC
$2,000
28
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
NJ
$2,500
27
NM
$1,000
31
NY
$19,000
3
OH
$10,500
6
OK
$1,000
32
OR
$7,500
9
PA
$5,500
15
SC
$5,000
21
SD
$1,000
33
TN
$6,000
14
TX
$15,000
4
UT
$3,500
25
VA
$9,500
7
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Contributions: ($294,500)
Democrats 54 percent ($158,000)
Republicans 46 percent ($136,500)
House Candidates/PACs 66 percent ($195,000)
Senate Candidates/PACs 34 percent ($99,500)
year-by-year pacdisbursements
Total to Date $1,351,000
0
007 Disbursements
The following candidates and political committees received Horse PAC funds in 2007:
United States House of Representatives
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Artur Davis
D
AL
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means/CBC
Marion Berry
D
AR
2008
$1,000
Appropriations & Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
Mike Ross
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Jim Costa
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Devin Nunes
R
CA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Loretta Sanchez
D
CA
2008
$1,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Adam Schiff
D
CA
2008
$2,000
Appropriations/Judiciary/Blue Dog Coalition
John Salazar
D
CO
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
F. Allen Boyd
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Blue Dog Coalition
Tom Feeney
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Ric Keller
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Judiciary/Education & Labor/Horse Caucus
Tim Mahoney
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Debbie Wasserman Shultz
D
FL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
John Barrow
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Marshall
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Finance/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Leonard Boswell
D
IA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Melissa Bean
D
IL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Joe Donnelly
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Brad Ellsworth
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Baron Hill
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Dennis Moore
D
KS
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Ben Chandler
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Geoff Davis
R
KY
2008
$5,000
Financial Services/Horse Caucus
Ron Lewis
R
KY
2008
$10,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Yarmuth
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Education & Labor
Rodney Alexander
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Budget
Charles Boustany, Jr.
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture
Mike Michaud
D
ME
2008
$1,000
Small Business/Blue Dog Coalition
Dave Camp
R
MI
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
John Dingell
D
MI
2008
$5,000
Energy & Commerce
Collin Peterson
D
MN
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Mike McIntyre
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Heath Shuler
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Earl Pomeroy
D
ND
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Frank Pallone
D
NJ
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Horse Caucus
Steve Pearce
R
NM
2008
$1,000
Financial Serv./Homeland Security/Horse Caucus
Joseph Crowley
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Foreign Affairs/Horse Caucus
Kirsten Gillibrand
D
NY
2008
$3,500
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
John Hall
D
NY
2008
$1,000
Transportation & Infrastructure
Carolyn McCarthy
D
NY
2008
$2,000
Financial Services /Horse Caucus
Charles Rangel
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Patrick Tiberi
R
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Charlie Wilson
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Dan Boren
D
OK
2008
$1,000
Fin. Serv./Natural Resources/Blue Dog Coalition
Darlene Hooley
D
OR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce
Phil English
R
PA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Tim Holden
D
PA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Patrick Murphy
D
PA
2008
$2,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Stephanie Herseth
D
SD
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Cooper
D
TN
2008
$1,000
Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Tanner
D
TN
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Sam Johnson
R
TX
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Jim Matheson
D
UT
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Rich Boucher
D
VA
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Randy Forbes
R
VA
2008
$1,000
Judiciary
Bob Goodlatte
R
VA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Judiciary
Ron Kind
D
WI
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means
DCCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
NRCC
R
$5,000
National Republican Congressional Committee
CBC
D
$5,000
Congressional Black Caucus
Blue Dog Coalition
D
$5,000
Total-House of Reps Candidates/PAC
$162,500
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States Senate
Senate
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Richard Shelby
R
AL
2010
$2,500
Banking/Appropriations
Mark Pryor
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Commerce
Saxby Chambliss
R
GA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Charles Grassley
R
IA
2010
$5,000
Finance/Judiciary/Agriculture
Dick Durbin
D
IL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
Jim Bunning
R
KY
2010
$2,500
Finance
Pat Roberts
R
KS
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ethics/Finance
Thad Cochran
R
MS
2008
$3,500
Appropriations/Agriculture
Max Baucus
D
MT
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Byron Dorgan
D
ND
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
John Sununu
R
NH
2008
$5,000
Banking
George Voinovich
R
OH
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
Lindsey Graham
R
SC
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Budget/Judiciary
John Cornyn
R
TX
2008
$5,000
Judiciary
John Barrasso
R
WY
2013
$1,000
Energy/Environment/Public Works
DSCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
NRSC
R
$15,000
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Total-Senate
$ 82,000
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Leadership PACs
Associated Candidate
State
House/
Senate
2007 Disbursed
PAC
Blanche Lincoln
D
AR
S
$5,000
LINC PAC
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
H
$5,000
Moderate Victory Fund
Mitch McConnell
R
KY
S
$5,000
Bluegrass Committee
Hal Rogers
R
KY
H
$5,000
HAL PAC
Jim McCrery
R
LA
H
$5,000
Comm for Preservation of Capitalism
Tom Reynolds
R
NY
H
$2,500
TOM PAC
John Boehner
R
OH
H
$5,000
The Freedom Project
Gordon Smith
R
OR
S
$5,000
Impact America
Sam Johnson
R
TX
H
$2,500
Secure America’s Majority
Lamar Smith
R
TX
H
$5,000
Longhorn PAC
Robert Bennett
R
UT
S
$2,500
Snow PAC
Eric Cantor
D
VA
H
$2,500
ERIC PAC
GRAND TOTAL
$50,000
Total Leadership
$ 294,500
2007 Legislative Summary
As the trade association for the Thoroughbred industry, NTRA focuses its lobbying efforts on legislation having direct and material effect on its members and their business activities as they relate to race horse racing, breeding and pari-mutuel wagering.
Key issues for the association include safeguarding the industry’s ability to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing as authorized by the Interstate Horseracing Act, and tax issues affecting horse owners, breeders, racetracks and players. Notably in 2007, the association secured passage of the Equine Equity Act as part of the Senate-passed version of the Farm Bill.
In conjunction with the American Horse Council, the NTRA also supports Congressional education programs on general issues – such as agricultural matters and immigration – that affect a broad spectrum of horse owners, breeders and industry personnel.
The NTRA’s 2007 legislative activities are summarized below.
Farm Bill/Equine Equity Act
In 2007, the Equine Equity Act (EEA) provision was successfully attached to the Senate version of the Farm Bill, which passed in early December. The House passed its version of the Farm Bill in late summer. The two bills must now be reconciled in Conference, a process that is likely to begin in early 2008. The combined cost of the EEA – $489 million over 10 years – requires a revenue-raising offset under the current "pay-go" rules. An EEA offset has been identified, completing an important step.
First introduced in the 109th Congress and re-introduced in the 110th Congress, the EEA would lower the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12 months and accelerate and make uniform the depreciation of race horses from seven years (in most cases) to 36 months over four tax years. EEA remains one of the NTRA’s top tax priorities for the current Congress.
Player Withholding Bill
In 2007, NTRA initiated discussions with key Members regarding legislation to eliminate or substantially increase the threshold for federal tax withholding on pari-mutuel winnings (currently set at $5,000), which places the racing industry at a competitive disadvantage. Other forms of gaming such as poker, casino games and slots, are not subject to withholding. Withholding levels for pari-mutuel winnings were last changed (from $1,000 to $5,000) in 1992. The association will seek new "withholding conformity" legislation in 2008.
Proposed Steroid Legislation
In 2007, the NTRA was contacted by staffers for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Interstate Horseracing Act, regarding the use of steroids in racehorses. The query was part of a larger investigation into the use of steroids in other sports, notably Major League Baseball. NTRA representatives provided information on the horse industry’s medication rules, drug testing practices and penalties. Legislation aimed at eliminating or controlling steroid usage is in development. The association will continue to monitor legislation and public hearings regarding drug testing in professional sports.
Internet Gaming
Four separate pieces of legislation relating to Internet gaming were introduced in 2007: 1) a proposal for a government-funded study of Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV); 2) a bill to regulate Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); 3) a bill to tax Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA); and 4) a bill to expand the definition of what constitutes a "game of skill" that can be played over the Internet, introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL). All four bills remain stalled at the committee level. State Attorneys General continue to oppose any effort to undermine States’ powers to establish their own gaming laws. NTRA continues to monitor these bills.
2007 Legislative Summary
7
UIGEA Regulations
In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to prohibit the funding of unlawful Internet wagering. UIGEA, contained in Public Law 109-347, recognized horseracing’s authority to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing as authorized under the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). The statute directed the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Justice Department, to produce supporting regulations. Draft regulations were issued on October 1, 2007. The public comment period for the proposed regulations concluded on December 12, 2007. NTRA continues to monitor the proposed regulations.
Immigration
After several failed attempts at immigration reform over the past 18 months, Congress has substantially backed off the issue in 2007 and is not expected to take up comprehensive immigration reform until after the presidential elections in 2008. Democratic leadership has, for the most part, resisted piecemeal efforts to pass parts of the immigration bill. Efforts by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to attach her AgJOBS bill to the Farm Bill and by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to move legislation that would allow H-2B workers who have worked in the U.S. in the previous three years to be exempted from the annual visa cap of 66,000 were rebuffed. The 66,000 visa cap was met within days of the start of the new fiscal year.
To increase its role in immigration advocacy, NTRA has joined an immigration coalition for associations and industries that rely heavily on H-2B workers. The H2-B Workforce Coalition includes the American Horse Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Associated Builders and Contractors, American Nursery & Landscape Association and thousands of other organizations and industries employing immigrant workers.
2007 Legislative Summary
Horse Slaughter
In 2007, the House passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill that de-funds United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection services in connection with the movement of slaughter-bound horses. The Senate version of the Ag Appropriations bill contains no similar language. Democratic House Leadership remains supportive of the anti-slaughter language, as are several key Senators. Whether the language survives in Conference as yet remains uncertain.
Also in 2007, the USDA proposed amendments to the regulations governing the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter. The changes would extend the protections provided by the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act (CTESA) to horses bound for slaughter but delivered first to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard.
Currently, CTESA protections (including mandated rest periods and access to food and water) apply only to equines being transported directly to a slaughter plant, not to slaughter-bound equines that are moved to intermediate stopping points during the shipping process. The proposed amendment would close the gap in the protections afforded by CTESA.
2008 Outlook
After Democrats assumed majorities in both the House and Senate in late 2006, Horse PAC adjusted its disbursements in 2007 to reflect the new balance of power in Congress.
In 2008, the PAC will continue its pattern of bi-partisan giving. In anticipation of greater activity with respect to tax issues affecting horsemen, racetracks and horse players, Horse PAC will increase its focus on tax committees such as the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Horse PAC will also continue its strategic support for Congressional committees and PACs such as the Blue Dog Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Democratic and Republican leadership committees in both the House and Senate.
2007 Legislative Summary
9 0
For more information contact:
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
(800) 792-6872, ext. 648
www.SupportHorseRacing.org
2525 Harrodsburg Road
Lexington, KY 40504
Phone: (859) 245-6872
Fax: (859) 223-3945
Message from the president
March 11, 2008
Horse PAC enjoyed its widest support in 2007. With receipts of $347,604 in 2007, Horse PAC ended the year with $490,793 in cash on hand. A record 221 NTRA members contributed to the PAC this year. We thank them for their constancy and support.
The Horse PAC Board also welcomed four new Directors during 2007: George B. Bolton, Marc W. Dunbar, Robert S. Evans and J. Kenneth Luke, bringing the total number of directors to 18 for 2007. Horse PAC may have up to 25 Board members.
Horse PAC disbursements in 2007 were $294,500, a record for a non-election year. The PAC supported 10 of the "freshmen" Members elected at the start of the 2006/2007 Congressional cycle and in all, supported 84 individual candidates from 34 states.
The PAC’s most important determinant for giving remains a candidate’s Committee membership. Horse PAC’s support was spread across key committees that oversee the pari-mutuel horse racing and breeding industries, including Agriculture, Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Finance, Homeland Security and Judiciary.
Reaffirming Horse PAC’s mission to support only Federal political candidates and parties at the Congressional level, the Board of Directors in 2007 unanimously passed a resolution barring Horse PAC contributions to United States Presidential candidates.
As we look forward to 2008, we anticipate yet another season of growth for Horse PAC, which continues to be the largest gaming PAC after just five and a half years of operations.
With an election year upon us and a number of key legislative issues still to be addressed in the 110th Congress, we expect an active year on multiple fronts in Washington, D.C. A summary of our key legislative issues and activities in 2007 appears on pages 15 through 18 of this report.
We encourage you to keep abreast of our efforts on Capitol Hill by visiting our Web site, www.SupportHorseRacing.org. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
Table of Contents
Message from the PAC President..................................1
Board of Directors ................................................................2
About Horse PAC ................................................................3
Receipts ......................................................................................4
Contributors...............................................................................5
Disbursements ........................................................................7
Legislative Summary.............................................................15
2007 horse pacboard of directors
In 2006, the by-laws of Horse PAC were amended to allow up to 25 members on the Board of Directors. Directors are appointed by the PAC President. The 2007 Horse PAC Board consisted of:
William S. Farish, Jr., Chairman
Antony Beck
George B. Bolton
Case Clay
Laura A. D’Angelo
Marc W. Dunbar
Robert Elliston
Robert S. Evans
Tracy Farmer
Terrence P. Finley
Lucy Young Hamilton
John C. Harris
F. Jack Liebau, Jr.
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Terence J. Meyocks
Anne W. Poulson
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
NTRA President and CEO, ex officio
Peggy Hendershot
President & Treasurer
Barbara Fossum
Assistant Treasurer
about horse pac
Horse PAC is the Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The Committee was activated in 2002 to promote and facilitate the accumulation of voluntary contributions from members of the NTRA and its subsidiaries and affiliates, for the support of political parties and candidates for elective office in the United States. The Committee is dedicated to the support of candidates who have taken responsible positions on issues involving the Thoroughbred racing industry. As a multi-issue PAC, the Committee gives strategic support to federal political candidates who:
• Serve on Congressional committees that oversee livestock and agricultural issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act
• Are established leaders and control Congressional leadership PACs
• Endorse tax legislation benefiting race horse owners, breeders, players and businesses
• Have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers and other equine venues in their districts
• Are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus
• Are emerging leaders meriting "early support"
Key Congressional Committees for the Thoroughbred Industry
Committee
House/Senate
Issue(s)
Agriculture
House and Senate
Livestock, equine identification, Farm Bill
Appropriations
House and Senate
Bills serve as vehicles for other provisions
Banking
Senate
Internet gaming
Senate
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Energy & Commerce
House
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Finance
Senate
Taxes and trade
Financial Services
House
Taxes and trade
Homeland Security
House and Senate
Security for major racing events; anti-terrorism measures affecting consumers; immigration
Judiciary
House and Senate
Internet gaming, immigration
Ways & Means
House
Taxes and trade
Commerce, Science & Technology
receipts
From inception through December 31, 2007, Horse PAC has raised $1,842,970. The committee raised $731,724 for the 2003/04 election cycle and $724,538 for the 2005/06 election cycle.
Horse PAC Annual Receipts, 2002-007
In 2007 Horse PAC continued to lead all gaming PACs by receipts.
gaming pacs receipts
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Champions – $5,000
Josephine E. Abercrombie
Lee & Carmen Ackerley
John W. Amerman
Craig Bandoroff
Ramona Seeligson Bass
Angela Levy Beck
Bill & Susan Casner
Case B. Clay
Robert & Blythe Clay
CTBA PAC
Adele B. Dilschneider
C. Steven Duncker
Robert S. Evans
Sarah S. Farish
William S. Farish, Jr.
William S. Farish, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Tracy Farmer
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Ford
Mr. & Mrs. William Hamilton
Seth Hancock
Debbie Hancock
John C. Harris
William Heiligbrodt
R.D. Hubbard
E.J & Lynne Hudson, Jr.
G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.
Brereton Jones
Dr. Gary B. Knapp
Beverly Lewis
F. Jack Liebau, Sr.
Maureen O. Luke
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Robert McNair
Ogden M. Phipps
Arthur F. Preston
Michael L. Rankowitz
Satish & Anne Sanan
Ronald J. Sellitto
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Mace Siegel
Samantha Siegel
Smithfield Foods, Inc. PAC
Stuart & Anita Subotnick
William T. Young, Jr.
Winners – $,500 - $4,999
Ron Crockett
Martin Cunningham
Hugh A. Fitzsimons, Jr.
E.K. Gaylord
Helen K. Groves
Waddell W. Hancock, II
Elizabeth Jones
Robert V. LaPenta
Jeffrey & Margery Lewis
Carl F. Pollard
James & Mary Treptow
Robert B. Trussell, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
Randy Zeller
Leaders – $1,000 - $,499
Gregory C. Avioli
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Barber
Mrs. John Bell, III
Bob Bork
Nicholas Brady
James C. Brady
Mr. & Mrs. Chester Broman, Sr.
Darrell & Lendy Brown
John Brooks
Alexander G. Campbell
Thomas Clark
Deborah A. Easter
Lee R. Einsidler
Robert N. Elliston
Terrence & Debbie Finley
David C. Fogg
Mr. & Mrs. Mustapha Fostock
Thomas Gaines
Martha F. Gerry
Thomas Henrion
Ian Highet
Richard C. Imbert
Barry Irwin
Charles Kidder
John K. Leonard
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ludt
Robert Manfuso
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Matz
Kiaran McLaughlin
James & Lisa Means
Terence J. Meyocks
Jerry Moss
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Nicholson
Phillip T. O’Hara
Paul Oreffice
John C. Oxley
Raymond Paulick
Robert Penchina
Nancy Polk
Daniel M. Rosenberg
Paul Saylor
Barry K. Schwartz
Fred Seitz
Michael & Lyn Shanley
James Squires
Beverly Steinman
Robert J. Terry
Stella Ferguson Thayer
Elizabeth Valando
D.G. Van Clief, Jr.
Peter S. Willmott
David & Holly Wilson
Jack Wolf
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Supporters – Up To - $999
Stephen & Laura Avakian
Stephen J. Barberino, Jr.
John H. Barr
Ruth Bedford
Theodore J. Berge
Stacy S. Berge
Gary Biszantz
Frank Bonsal, Jr.
Peter Bradley
Niall Brennan
Bob R. Brooks
J. Mark Burton
Thomas Capehart
Keith E. Card
Keith Chamblin & Laura D’Angelo
Mrs. Roy Chapman
Ellen MacNeille Charles
Sherwood Chillingworth
Cindy Clark
Catesby W. Clay
Mark Corrado
Brian Culnan
Douglas Dean
Marvin Delfiner
David & Christy DiPietro
M.E. Dowell
Mr. & Mrs. Charles DuBose
Christopher Elser
William Entenmann
Tom Evans
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Feldman
Brent & Crystal Fernung
Joseph Flara
Rob & Jolene Fullerton
Jim D. Gallagher
Elbridge T. Gerry, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Green
F. William Gue
Emory A. Hamilton
Vern Heath
Margaret Hendershot
Carolyn Hine
Neil Howard
Bruce Hundley
Robert G. Irvin
Jim D. Jackson
Annie Jones
Bill Justice
Syl Kiger
Caesar P. Kimmel
Patricia A. Klussman
Theodore Kuster
David L. Kyger
John & Louise Lally
William & Sally Landes
Louisa Lenehan
Lara Levine
Bertram Linder
W. Bruce Lunsford
Willliam Maley
Frank Mansell
Dr. Merritt W. Marrs, Jr.
Jaqueline Badger Mars
Tony Metaxas
A. Stevens Miles, Jr.
Maurleen V. Miller
MacKenzie Miller
John & Susan Moore
Mark Moran
Edmund Mudge, IV
Joanne R. Mummert
Frances Myers
John Nash
John A. Nerud
Howard C. Nolan, Jr.
William Parsons, Jr.
John W. Phillips
James A. Philpott, Jr.
Cynthia Phipps
Todd & Tracy Pletcher
Kjell H. Qvale
Dr. David Richardson
Dr. Jack K. Robbins
Josh Rubinstein
Andrew Sauve
Chris Scherf
Peter G. Schiff
Mitchell L. Schlossman
Allen Schubert
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Smith
George Strawbridge, Jr.
John Stuart
John M. Sullivan, Jr.
Ted Taylor
Peter Van Andel
Dr. Glen C. Warren
Wheelock Whitney
Ward Williford
Henry A. Zeitlin
ntra advantage
Contributors to Horse PAC are eligible for significant savings on nationally known products like John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, UPS and more through NTRA Advantage. When you use NTRA Advantage vendors, a portion of your purchase prices goes to support the equine industry. To enjoy the benefits of group purchasing and one-stop buying, call toll-free at (866) 678-4289 or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com.
or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by Amount*
State
Amount
Rank
KY
$37,500
1
CA
$20,500
2
NY
$19,000
3
TX
$15,000
4
AR
$11,000
5
OH
$10,000
6
VA
$9,500
7
MI
$7,500
8
OR
$7,500
9
GA
$7,000
10
LA
$7,000
11
FL
$6,500
12
IA
$6,000
13
TN
$6,000
14
PA
$5,500
15
AL
$5,000
16
MN
$5,000
17
MT
$5,000
18
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
SC
$5,000
21
IL
$3,500
22
KS
$3,500
23
MS
$3,500
24
UT
$3,500
25
IN
$3,000
26
NJ
$2,500
27
NC
$2,000
28
CO
$1,000
29
ME
$1,000
30
NM
$1,000
31
OK
$1,000
32
SD
$1,000
33
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by State*
State
Amount
Rank
AL
$5,000
16
AR
$11,000
5
CA
$20,500
2
CO
$1,000
29
FL
$6,500
12
GA
$7,000
10
IA
$6,000
13
IL
$3,500
22
IN
$3,000
26
KS
$3,500
23
KY
$37,500
1
LA
$7,000
11
ME
$1,000
30
MI
$7,500
8
MN
$5,000
17
MS
$3,500
24
MT
$5,000
18
NC
$2,000
28
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
NJ
$2,500
27
NM
$1,000
31
NY
$19,000
3
OH
$10,500
6
OK
$1,000
32
OR
$7,500
9
PA
$5,500
15
SC
$5,000
21
SD
$1,000
33
TN
$6,000
14
TX
$15,000
4
UT
$3,500
25
VA
$9,500
7
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Contributions: ($294,500)
Democrats 54 percent ($158,000)
Republicans 46 percent ($136,500)
House Candidates/PACs 66 percent ($195,000)
Senate Candidates/PACs 34 percent ($99,500)
year-by-year pacdisbursements
Total to Date $1,351,000
0
007 Disbursements
The following candidates and political committees received Horse PAC funds in 2007:
United States House of Representatives
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Artur Davis
D
AL
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means/CBC
Marion Berry
D
AR
2008
$1,000
Appropriations & Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
Mike Ross
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Jim Costa
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Devin Nunes
R
CA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Loretta Sanchez
D
CA
2008
$1,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Adam Schiff
D
CA
2008
$2,000
Appropriations/Judiciary/Blue Dog Coalition
John Salazar
D
CO
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
F. Allen Boyd
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Blue Dog Coalition
Tom Feeney
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Ric Keller
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Judiciary/Education & Labor/Horse Caucus
Tim Mahoney
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Debbie Wasserman Shultz
D
FL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
John Barrow
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Marshall
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Finance/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Leonard Boswell
D
IA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Melissa Bean
D
IL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Joe Donnelly
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Brad Ellsworth
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Baron Hill
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Dennis Moore
D
KS
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Ben Chandler
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Geoff Davis
R
KY
2008
$5,000
Financial Services/Horse Caucus
Ron Lewis
R
KY
2008
$10,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Yarmuth
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Education & Labor
Rodney Alexander
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Budget
Charles Boustany, Jr.
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture
Mike Michaud
D
ME
2008
$1,000
Small Business/Blue Dog Coalition
Dave Camp
R
MI
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
John Dingell
D
MI
2008
$5,000
Energy & Commerce
Collin Peterson
D
MN
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Mike McIntyre
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Heath Shuler
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Earl Pomeroy
D
ND
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Frank Pallone
D
NJ
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Horse Caucus
Steve Pearce
R
NM
2008
$1,000
Financial Serv./Homeland Security/Horse Caucus
Joseph Crowley
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Foreign Affairs/Horse Caucus
Kirsten Gillibrand
D
NY
2008
$3,500
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
John Hall
D
NY
2008
$1,000
Transportation & Infrastructure
Carolyn McCarthy
D
NY
2008
$2,000
Financial Services /Horse Caucus
Charles Rangel
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Patrick Tiberi
R
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Charlie Wilson
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Dan Boren
D
OK
2008
$1,000
Fin. Serv./Natural Resources/Blue Dog Coalition
Darlene Hooley
D
OR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce
Phil English
R
PA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Tim Holden
D
PA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Patrick Murphy
D
PA
2008
$2,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Stephanie Herseth
D
SD
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Cooper
D
TN
2008
$1,000
Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Tanner
D
TN
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Sam Johnson
R
TX
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Jim Matheson
D
UT
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Rich Boucher
D
VA
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Randy Forbes
R
VA
2008
$1,000
Judiciary
Bob Goodlatte
R
VA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Judiciary
Ron Kind
D
WI
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means
DCCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
NRCC
R
$5,000
National Republican Congressional Committee
CBC
D
$5,000
Congressional Black Caucus
Blue Dog Coalition
D
$5,000
Total-House of Reps Candidates/PAC
$162,500
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States Senate
Senate
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Richard Shelby
R
AL
2010
$2,500
Banking/Appropriations
Mark Pryor
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Commerce
Saxby Chambliss
R
GA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Charles Grassley
R
IA
2010
$5,000
Finance/Judiciary/Agriculture
Dick Durbin
D
IL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
Jim Bunning
R
KY
2010
$2,500
Finance
Pat Roberts
R
KS
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ethics/Finance
Thad Cochran
R
MS
2008
$3,500
Appropriations/Agriculture
Max Baucus
D
MT
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Byron Dorgan
D
ND
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
John Sununu
R
NH
2008
$5,000
Banking
George Voinovich
R
OH
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
Lindsey Graham
R
SC
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Budget/Judiciary
John Cornyn
R
TX
2008
$5,000
Judiciary
John Barrasso
R
WY
2013
$1,000
Energy/Environment/Public Works
DSCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
NRSC
R
$15,000
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Total-Senate
$ 82,000
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Leadership PACs
Associated Candidate
State
House/
Senate
2007 Disbursed
PAC
Blanche Lincoln
D
AR
S
$5,000
LINC PAC
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
H
$5,000
Moderate Victory Fund
Mitch McConnell
R
KY
S
$5,000
Bluegrass Committee
Hal Rogers
R
KY
H
$5,000
HAL PAC
Jim McCrery
R
LA
H
$5,000
Comm for Preservation of Capitalism
Tom Reynolds
R
NY
H
$2,500
TOM PAC
John Boehner
R
OH
H
$5,000
The Freedom Project
Gordon Smith
R
OR
S
$5,000
Impact America
Sam Johnson
R
TX
H
$2,500
Secure America’s Majority
Lamar Smith
R
TX
H
$5,000
Longhorn PAC
Robert Bennett
R
UT
S
$2,500
Snow PAC
Eric Cantor
D
VA
H
$2,500
ERIC PAC
GRAND TOTAL
$50,000
Total Leadership
$ 294,500
2007 Legislative Summary
As the trade association for the Thoroughbred industry, NTRA focuses its lobbying efforts on legislation having direct and material effect on its members and their business activities as they relate to race horse racing, breeding and pari-mutuel wagering.
Key issues for the association include safeguarding the industry’s ability to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing as authorized by the Interstate Horseracing Act, and tax issues affecting horse owners, breeders, racetracks and players. Notably in 2007, the association secured passage of the Equine Equity Act as part of the Senate-passed version of the Farm Bill.
In conjunction with the American Horse Council, the NTRA also supports Congressional education programs on general issues – such as agricultural matters and immigration – that affect a broad spectrum of horse owners, breeders and industry personnel.
The NTRA’s 2007 legislative activities are summarized below.
Farm Bill/Equine Equity Act
In 2007, the Equine Equity Act (EEA) provision was successfully attached to the Senate version of the Farm Bill, which passed in early December. The House passed its version of the Farm Bill in late summer. The two bills must now be reconciled in Conference, a process that is likely to begin in early 2008. The combined cost of the EEA – $489 million over 10 years – requires a revenue-raising offset under the current "pay-go" rules. An EEA offset has been identified, completing an important step.
First introduced in the 109th Congress and re-introduced in the 110th Congress, the EEA would lower the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12 months and accelerate and make uniform the depreciation of race horses from seven years (in most cases) to 36 months over four tax years. EEA remains one of the NTRA’s top tax priorities for the current Congress.
Player Withholding Bill
In 2007, NTRA initiated discussions with key Members regarding legislation to eliminate or substantially increase the threshold for federal tax withholding on pari-mutuel winnings (currently set at $5,000), which places the racing industry at a competitive disadvantage. Other forms of gaming such as poker, casino games and slots, are not subject to withholding. Withholding levels for pari-mutuel winnings were last changed (from $1,000 to $5,000) in 1992. The association will seek new "withholding conformity" legislation in 2008.
Proposed Steroid Legislation
In 2007, the NTRA was contacted by staffers for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Interstate Horseracing Act, regarding the use of steroids in racehorses. The query was part of a larger investigation into the use of steroids in other sports, notably Major League Baseball. NTRA representatives provided information on the horse industry’s medication rules, drug testing practices and penalties. Legislation aimed at eliminating or controlling steroid usage is in development. The association will continue to monitor legislation and public hearings regarding drug testing in professional sports.
Internet Gaming
Four separate pieces of legislation relating to Internet gaming were introduced in 2007: 1) a proposal for a government-funded study of Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV); 2) a bill to regulate Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); 3) a bill to tax Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA); and 4) a bill to expand the definition of what constitutes a "game of skill" that can be played over the Internet, introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL). All four bills remain stalled at the committee level. State Attorneys General continue to oppose any effort to undermine States’ powers to establish their own gaming laws. NTRA continues to monitor these bills.
2007 Legislative Summary
7
UIGEA Regulations
In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to prohibit the funding of unlawful Internet wagering. UIGEA, contained in Public Law 109-347, recognized horseracing’s authority to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing as authorized under the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). The statute directed the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Justice Department, to produce supporting regulations. Draft regulations were issued on October 1, 2007. The public comment period for the proposed regulations concluded on December 12, 2007. NTRA continues to monitor the proposed regulations.
Immigration
After several failed attempts at immigration reform over the past 18 months, Congress has substantially backed off the issue in 2007 and is not expected to take up comprehensive immigration reform until after the presidential elections in 2008. Democratic leadership has, for the most part, resisted piecemeal efforts to pass parts of the immigration bill. Efforts by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to attach her AgJOBS bill to the Farm Bill and by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to move legislation that would allow H-2B workers who have worked in the U.S. in the previous three years to be exempted from the annual visa cap of 66,000 were rebuffed. The 66,000 visa cap was met within days of the start of the new fiscal year.
To increase its role in immigration advocacy, NTRA has joined an immigration coalition for associations and industries that rely heavily on H-2B workers. The H2-B Workforce Coalition includes the American Horse Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Associated Builders and Contractors, American Nursery & Landscape Association and thousands of other organizations and industries employing immigrant workers.
2007 Legislative Summary
Horse Slaughter
In 2007, the House passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill that de-funds United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection services in connection with the movement of slaughter-bound horses. The Senate version of the Ag Appropriations bill contains no similar language. Democratic House Leadership remains supportive of the anti-slaughter language, as are several key Senators. Whether the language survives in Conference as yet remains uncertain.
Also in 2007, the USDA proposed amendments to the regulations governing the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter. The changes would extend the protections provided by the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act (CTESA) to horses bound for slaughter but delivered first to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard.
Currently, CTESA protections (including mandated rest periods and access to food and water) apply only to equines being transported directly to a slaughter plant, not to slaughter-bound equines that are moved to intermediate stopping points during the shipping process. The proposed amendment would close the gap in the protections afforded by CTESA.
2008 Outlook
After Democrats assumed majorities in both the House and Senate in late 2006, Horse PAC adjusted its disbursements in 2007 to reflect the new balance of power in Congress.
In 2008, the PAC will continue its pattern of bi-partisan giving. In anticipation of greater activity with respect to tax issues affecting horsemen, racetracks and horse players, Horse PAC will increase its focus on tax committees such as the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Horse PAC will also continue its strategic support for Congressional committees and PACs such as the Blue Dog Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Democratic and Republican leadership committees in both the House and Senate.
2007 Legislative Summary
9 0
For more information contact:
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
(800) 792-6872, ext. 648
www.SupportHorseRacing.org
2525 Harrodsburg Road
Lexington, KY 40504
Phone: (859) 245-6872
Fax: (859) 223-3945
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Kentuckys Breeding Incentive Program; 40M to Breeders but Not a Dime for Rescue(s)
Re: Fw: Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund (KBIF) Registration Deadline
Tue Jul 7, 2009 12:31 pm (PDT)
Studies have shown that 35% of all horses bred for racing go to slaughter. We think that is a conservative estimate!
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Public Protection Cabinet
Horse Racing CommissionKentucky
Steven L. Beshear, Governor;
Lisa E. Underwood, Executive Director
Robert D. Vance, Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jamie Eads
(859) 246-2040
KentuckyBreeders Incentive Fund Registration
Deadline is Set.
Online registration available at www.khrc.ky. gov
LEXINGTON , Ky. (July 6, 2009) The Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Incentive Fund (KBIF) today announced the registration deadline for mares covered in 2009. Breeders may register online by going to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) web site at www.khrc.ky. govand clicking on Breeders Incentive Fund no later than Aug. 1, 2009. The registration fee is $60. Online registration instructions are available on the website as well as registration forms for breeders who prefer to pay by check.
To qualify for the program, the mare must have been covered by a Kentucky stallion and remain in Kentucky from the time of cover until foaling. Registering the mares bred this year will allow the 2010 foal to be eligible for breeder incentive awards during the foals racing careers. More than $15 million was awarded on 2008 races won by Kentucky-breds eligible for KBIF funds. The KBIF was implemented in 2005 to ensure the strength & growth of the horse industry in Kentucky .Since the funds inception, more than $40 million has been awarded to thoroughbred breeders as an incentive to breed their mares in Kentucky and keep them in the state.
For more information about the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund visit the KHRC web site at www.khrc.ky. govor call (859) 246-2847 or (888) KYBRED.
(Bloggers Note: New Yorks Breeding Incentive Programs are worse by far than any other in the Country, but like the others, still no money for rescue, retirement or re-homeing of the industries cast-off horses.)
Tue Jul 7, 2009 12:31 pm (PDT)
Studies have shown that 35% of all horses bred for racing go to slaughter. We think that is a conservative estimate!
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Public Protection Cabinet
Horse Racing CommissionKentucky
Steven L. Beshear, Governor;
Lisa E. Underwood, Executive Director
Robert D. Vance, Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jamie Eads
(859) 246-2040
KentuckyBreeders Incentive Fund Registration
Deadline is Set.
Online registration available at www.khrc.ky. gov
LEXINGTON , Ky. (July 6, 2009) The Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Incentive Fund (KBIF) today announced the registration deadline for mares covered in 2009. Breeders may register online by going to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) web site at www.khrc.ky. govand clicking on Breeders Incentive Fund no later than Aug. 1, 2009. The registration fee is $60. Online registration instructions are available on the website as well as registration forms for breeders who prefer to pay by check.
To qualify for the program, the mare must have been covered by a Kentucky stallion and remain in Kentucky from the time of cover until foaling. Registering the mares bred this year will allow the 2010 foal to be eligible for breeder incentive awards during the foals racing careers. More than $15 million was awarded on 2008 races won by Kentucky-breds eligible for KBIF funds. The KBIF was implemented in 2005 to ensure the strength & growth of the horse industry in Kentucky .Since the funds inception, more than $40 million has been awarded to thoroughbred breeders as an incentive to breed their mares in Kentucky and keep them in the state.
For more information about the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund visit the KHRC web site at www.khrc.ky. govor call (859) 246-2847 or (888) KYBRED.
(Bloggers Note: New Yorks Breeding Incentive Programs are worse by far than any other in the Country, but like the others, still no money for rescue, retirement or re-homeing of the industries cast-off horses.)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Another State (NH) Ends Greyhound Racing!!
Click on title above to read more about the wonderful progress we are making in ENDING Greyhound Racing in the USA -
http://animalnews2.blogspot.com/2009/07/dog-racing-ends-in-new-hampshire.html
Monday, June 29, 2009
Gambling & The Great Depression, Then & Now
Excerpt from article, "Greater Depressions: Social and Behavioral Trends of Economic Collapse"
By Kathy McMahon, Psy. D.;
The Great Depression led to a much greater legalization of gambling. The antigambling mood changed as tremendous financial distress gripped the country, especially after the stock market crash of 1929. Legalized gambling was looked upon as a way to stimulate the economy…In 1933, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, and California legalized parimutuel betting. The California Legislature adopted a statute in 1933 referred to as the Horse Racing Act. The statutes took effect upon adoption by the voters of an amendment to the Constitution in June of 1933. During the 1930’s, 21 states brought back racetracks….Nevada legalized most forms of gambling in the State in 1931.
Lottery sales are up. Of the 42 states with lotteries, 22 set sales records last year, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. They’ll do even better in 2009. But will the gamblers?
The suicide rate among compulsive gamblers is more than 20 times higher than in the general population, according to the crisis center. As during the Great Depression, some people facing financial troubles (and State Governments as well) turn to gambling as a possible salvation. In fact, those who help with compulsive gambling problems are seeing an increase in requests for help. Calls to the 1-800 BETS OFF helpline have increased 41 percent from FY 2002 to FY 2008.
Article from "PeakOilBlues," a wonderful Psy-Fi (psychology & finance) blog where Angsty Americans go; see you there or be square!
Click on title above for full article;
http://www.peakoilblues.com/blog/
Who They Are;
http://www.peakoilblues.com/who.php
By Kathy McMahon, Psy. D.;
The Great Depression led to a much greater legalization of gambling. The antigambling mood changed as tremendous financial distress gripped the country, especially after the stock market crash of 1929. Legalized gambling was looked upon as a way to stimulate the economy…In 1933, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, and California legalized parimutuel betting. The California Legislature adopted a statute in 1933 referred to as the Horse Racing Act. The statutes took effect upon adoption by the voters of an amendment to the Constitution in June of 1933. During the 1930’s, 21 states brought back racetracks….Nevada legalized most forms of gambling in the State in 1931.
Lottery sales are up. Of the 42 states with lotteries, 22 set sales records last year, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. They’ll do even better in 2009. But will the gamblers?
The suicide rate among compulsive gamblers is more than 20 times higher than in the general population, according to the crisis center. As during the Great Depression, some people facing financial troubles (and State Governments as well) turn to gambling as a possible salvation. In fact, those who help with compulsive gambling problems are seeing an increase in requests for help. Calls to the 1-800 BETS OFF helpline have increased 41 percent from FY 2002 to FY 2008.
Article from "PeakOilBlues," a wonderful Psy-Fi (psychology & finance) blog where Angsty Americans go; see you there or be square!
Click on title above for full article;
http://www.peakoilblues.com/blog/
Who They Are;
http://www.peakoilblues.com/who.php
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Another Gimmick by the horse-racing industry to broaden their fan base, and, (wouldnt you know it) to get their gambers some tax breaks.
Click on title above to see a petition for "No Tax Breaks for Gamblers"
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-tax-breaks-for-gamblers-at-our-expense
THOROFAN MISSION
The mission of the Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc., (ThoroFan) is to foster the growth of the Thoroughbred racing industry by providing racing fans with an organization that will actively support their interests.
THOROFAN
ThoroFan’s goals are to retain existing fans and develop new ones through education, membership benefits and communicating the voice of the fan to the racing industry. We aspire to enhance the enjoyment of racing, and knowledge of the sport by developing handicapping skills, providing a clearer path to ownership and reporting on a wide range of issues that are of interest to today’s fan. We leverage our efforts through cooperation with other organizations in the Thoroughbred community.
THE FAN
The Thoroughbred racing fan is the ultimate customer of the sport and industry. Without fan support there would be no races, racehorses, horsemen, owners, track operators or breeding farms. The fan is critical to Thoroughbred racing.
Each fan, regardless of level of participation in the sport, needs to have his or her concerns identified and supported if Thoroughbred racing is to prosper.
ThoroFan.Org
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Kentucky News: Gov gets a new blog, video gambling & more...
News briefs from around Kentucky at 4:58 a.m. EDT
Ky. governor starts blog
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — First it was Twitter, now Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is going up with a blog.
The 64-year-old Democrat launched his blog Monday. Beshear says it will help Kentuckians stay updated on what's new.
Beshear says now's the best time to start the blog because he recently called the General Assembly into a special session to begin next Monday. The governor wants lawmakers to pass legislation addressing the state's estimated $1 billion budget shortfall and to legalize slot machines at race tracks.
The governor also wants lawmakers to pass economic development tax incentives and to create an authority to oversee construction of bridges between Kentucky and Indiana.
Beshear already had a Twitter account and gives weekly addresses on YouTube.
__
___
Ky. racing commission to discuss gambling
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is scheduled to discuss a proposal to allow video gambling at tracks.
The commission's agenda says it will take up whether to support Gov. Steve Beshear's call for lawmakers to consider the proposal during a special legislative session that begins Monday.
Beshear called a special session so lawmakers could consider legislation aimed at relieving the state's estimated $1 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year. He later added the gambling proposal to the agenda.
The Democratic governor who campaigned on a promise to expand gambling says a state known for the Kentucky Derby and its majestic race horses is in danger of losing the equine industry without additional gambling revenue.
___
Auditors question TVA shoreline deals with wealthy
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wealthy and influential people seeking private lakeshore access to the Tennessee Valley Authority's 11,000 miles of Tennessee River system shoreline appeared to receive preferential treatment, according to an audit released Monday.
TVA Inspector General Richard Moore's 85-page report found no evidence that rules were deliberately broken, but said TVA managed the program "selectively and arbitrarily" often to the benefit of "the wealthy, the influential, or both."
Among those receiving approval for boat docks or waterfront access was U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., who until recently served on a House subcommittee with oversight of TVA, the nation's largest public utility.
The audit, pushed by publicity over Shuler's influence on a residential lake development near Knoxville in which he is an investor, focused on TVA's "maintain and grow" program under which it grants water-access rights to one piece of land in exchange for rights on another piece of land. The goal is to produce no net loss of public shoreline.
Moore worried the program, as it was run, may undermine TVA lakeshore management reforms adopted in 2006. The reforms for the first time set residential development limits on TVA lakes and rivers, ensuring the public could use at least 68 percent of its managed shoreline.
Others who were approved for private docks or water access were former TVA Chairman Bill Sansom of Knoxville and Charles Perry, the general manager of the Paris (Ky.) Board of Public Utilities — a TVA power distributor.
___
Governor, leaders to discuss special session
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's House is "poised" to vote on a plan to legalize video gambling at horse racing tracks throughout the state, Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday night, stopping short of predicting its ultimate success.
Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat, agreed with Gov. Steve Beshear that lawmakers should vote this summer on whether to allow tracks to operate video gambling machines — also called slots — that could generate additional money for Kentucky's horse industry.
Still, Stumbo said the plan lacked the "full support" among leaders in the Democrat-controlled House and debate would likely drag on more than a week.
"We don't have the full support," Stumbo said during an appearance on Kentucky Educational Television's Kentucky Tonight show broadcast from Lexington, Ky. "This is one of those bills that we're just telling our members to vote what they believe their conscience is. It's too important of a decision to really twist arms or do those sorts of things."
Stumbo, Beshear, a Democrat, and Senate President David Williams, a Burkesville Republican appeared together Monday night before the General Assembly's high-stakes special session set to begin next week. Beshear has called the legislature into a special session on June 15 to deal with an estimated $1 billion budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year, and a plan to legalize video gambling terminals at Kentucky's horse racing tracks.
The governor, a Democrat, also has ordered lawmakers to consider passing legislation authorizing new economic development tax incentives, and the creation of an authority to oversee construction of major bridges between Kentucky and Indiana.
Ky. governor starts blog
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — First it was Twitter, now Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is going up with a blog.
The 64-year-old Democrat launched his blog Monday. Beshear says it will help Kentuckians stay updated on what's new.
Beshear says now's the best time to start the blog because he recently called the General Assembly into a special session to begin next Monday. The governor wants lawmakers to pass legislation addressing the state's estimated $1 billion budget shortfall and to legalize slot machines at race tracks.
The governor also wants lawmakers to pass economic development tax incentives and to create an authority to oversee construction of bridges between Kentucky and Indiana.
Beshear already had a Twitter account and gives weekly addresses on YouTube.
__
___
Ky. racing commission to discuss gambling
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is scheduled to discuss a proposal to allow video gambling at tracks.
The commission's agenda says it will take up whether to support Gov. Steve Beshear's call for lawmakers to consider the proposal during a special legislative session that begins Monday.
Beshear called a special session so lawmakers could consider legislation aimed at relieving the state's estimated $1 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year. He later added the gambling proposal to the agenda.
The Democratic governor who campaigned on a promise to expand gambling says a state known for the Kentucky Derby and its majestic race horses is in danger of losing the equine industry without additional gambling revenue.
___
Auditors question TVA shoreline deals with wealthy
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wealthy and influential people seeking private lakeshore access to the Tennessee Valley Authority's 11,000 miles of Tennessee River system shoreline appeared to receive preferential treatment, according to an audit released Monday.
TVA Inspector General Richard Moore's 85-page report found no evidence that rules were deliberately broken, but said TVA managed the program "selectively and arbitrarily" often to the benefit of "the wealthy, the influential, or both."
Among those receiving approval for boat docks or waterfront access was U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., who until recently served on a House subcommittee with oversight of TVA, the nation's largest public utility.
The audit, pushed by publicity over Shuler's influence on a residential lake development near Knoxville in which he is an investor, focused on TVA's "maintain and grow" program under which it grants water-access rights to one piece of land in exchange for rights on another piece of land. The goal is to produce no net loss of public shoreline.
Moore worried the program, as it was run, may undermine TVA lakeshore management reforms adopted in 2006. The reforms for the first time set residential development limits on TVA lakes and rivers, ensuring the public could use at least 68 percent of its managed shoreline.
Others who were approved for private docks or water access were former TVA Chairman Bill Sansom of Knoxville and Charles Perry, the general manager of the Paris (Ky.) Board of Public Utilities — a TVA power distributor.
___
Governor, leaders to discuss special session
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's House is "poised" to vote on a plan to legalize video gambling at horse racing tracks throughout the state, Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday night, stopping short of predicting its ultimate success.
Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat, agreed with Gov. Steve Beshear that lawmakers should vote this summer on whether to allow tracks to operate video gambling machines — also called slots — that could generate additional money for Kentucky's horse industry.
Still, Stumbo said the plan lacked the "full support" among leaders in the Democrat-controlled House and debate would likely drag on more than a week.
"We don't have the full support," Stumbo said during an appearance on Kentucky Educational Television's Kentucky Tonight show broadcast from Lexington, Ky. "This is one of those bills that we're just telling our members to vote what they believe their conscience is. It's too important of a decision to really twist arms or do those sorts of things."
Stumbo, Beshear, a Democrat, and Senate President David Williams, a Burkesville Republican appeared together Monday night before the General Assembly's high-stakes special session set to begin next week. Beshear has called the legislature into a special session on June 15 to deal with an estimated $1 billion budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year, and a plan to legalize video gambling terminals at Kentucky's horse racing tracks.
The governor, a Democrat, also has ordered lawmakers to consider passing legislation authorizing new economic development tax incentives, and the creation of an authority to oversee construction of major bridges between Kentucky and Indiana.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
A Race Never Run: The Story of Witches Trail
Cross-posting for the Cause;
This isn't a sales pitch or a marketing piece; nor will it be considered
"headline news" by a worldwide reporter; it's a real story of a real horse – in
our care and on our watch. It is the real story of a 3 year old thoroughbred
full of life, a life that he may lose and here is his story.
Witch's Trail was bred to race, but he never raced. He never made it to the
starter gate, heard the roar of the crowd or lingered in the "Winner's Circle,"
he's a thoroughbred born to race, but he was betrayed.
Pure Thoughts answered a call from a man identifying himself as the trainer for
this horse. Allegedly he didn't know what was wrong with the horse and was
unable or unwilling to spend the money to have him diagnosed but it was apparent
he would not race. The woman who was supposedly rehabbing him had lost her farm
and this man was having " a rough meet at Tampa Bay Downs" and asked if we would
take this horse. When the truck arrived, no one was there, apparently the people
had moved the week before, no one to care for him; just Witch's Trail standing
alone with no one to even bid him luck or say goodbye.
When Brad Gaver, co-founder of Pure Thoughts off loaded Witch's Trail at our
farm, there was little evidence that the horse had received any type of rehab,
the horse could barely walk up the driveway… mind you a 3 year old horse in
training to race. Physically Witch's Trail appeared to need some weight and
needed his feet done so Brad trimmed his feet, put on a set of shoes to add
support and initially Witch's Trail seemed more comfortable, but our eyes knew
there was much more medically happening to this beautiful creature.
A few days later our vet came out to the farm, and it was a horrible afternoon.
Witch's Trail was diagnosed with Wobbles/ cervical vertebra spinal cord
compressive disease. In addition, he was diagnosed with a left rear tarsal
valgus deformity with clinical bone spavin swelling. He was more than likely
born with the latter and most possibly living with wobbles for a while. The true
story of this report is the pain this horse was in – in training to race, left
in a pasture, no hoof care, lame on all four legs – but a true thoroughbred –
stoic and brave – still willing to run his heart out for the humans who betrayed
him.
Witch's Trail very well could lose the most important race– the race for his
life. No matter what the outcome, he will be kept out of pain and treated to his
favorite foods, carrots, apples, treats, baths, grooming and have legions of
volunteers loving on him for as long as he chooses. He really needs a miracle,
and we have truly seen miracles happen here before, evidenced by the productive
lives thousands of our rescues now enjoy. He isn't ready to die – he whinnies to
the babies; he is excited to watch the horses walk by; he is curious and
affectionate; he is still full of life.
This is a plea to save the life of a horse not ready to die. We are looking to
you the compassionate veterinarians, racing industry experts, organizations and
horse lovers nationwide in the equine community to be willing to take a chance
on this boy name Witch's Trail. To read updates on this boy please visit
https://www.purethoughtshorserescue.com/ottbdivision/witchstrail/index.php
We pray for a miracle and hope that someone who is reading this can rally up
some possibility and suggestions for a young thoroughbred, born to race and now
deserving to live as a horse. We could not humanely euthanize him yesterday; he
is not ready to say goodbye nor are we. Can you help?
Cheryl Hanna
Jennifer Swanson
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Thoroughbred Rehabilitation and Placement
FLTRP@PureThoughtsHorseRescue.com
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Horse & Foal Rescue
19181 Capet Creek
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
www.PTHR.org
561-254-0415
This isn't a sales pitch or a marketing piece; nor will it be considered
"headline news" by a worldwide reporter; it's a real story of a real horse – in
our care and on our watch. It is the real story of a 3 year old thoroughbred
full of life, a life that he may lose and here is his story.
Witch's Trail was bred to race, but he never raced. He never made it to the
starter gate, heard the roar of the crowd or lingered in the "Winner's Circle,"
he's a thoroughbred born to race, but he was betrayed.
Pure Thoughts answered a call from a man identifying himself as the trainer for
this horse. Allegedly he didn't know what was wrong with the horse and was
unable or unwilling to spend the money to have him diagnosed but it was apparent
he would not race. The woman who was supposedly rehabbing him had lost her farm
and this man was having " a rough meet at Tampa Bay Downs" and asked if we would
take this horse. When the truck arrived, no one was there, apparently the people
had moved the week before, no one to care for him; just Witch's Trail standing
alone with no one to even bid him luck or say goodbye.
When Brad Gaver, co-founder of Pure Thoughts off loaded Witch's Trail at our
farm, there was little evidence that the horse had received any type of rehab,
the horse could barely walk up the driveway… mind you a 3 year old horse in
training to race. Physically Witch's Trail appeared to need some weight and
needed his feet done so Brad trimmed his feet, put on a set of shoes to add
support and initially Witch's Trail seemed more comfortable, but our eyes knew
there was much more medically happening to this beautiful creature.
A few days later our vet came out to the farm, and it was a horrible afternoon.
Witch's Trail was diagnosed with Wobbles/ cervical vertebra spinal cord
compressive disease. In addition, he was diagnosed with a left rear tarsal
valgus deformity with clinical bone spavin swelling. He was more than likely
born with the latter and most possibly living with wobbles for a while. The true
story of this report is the pain this horse was in – in training to race, left
in a pasture, no hoof care, lame on all four legs – but a true thoroughbred –
stoic and brave – still willing to run his heart out for the humans who betrayed
him.
Witch's Trail very well could lose the most important race– the race for his
life. No matter what the outcome, he will be kept out of pain and treated to his
favorite foods, carrots, apples, treats, baths, grooming and have legions of
volunteers loving on him for as long as he chooses. He really needs a miracle,
and we have truly seen miracles happen here before, evidenced by the productive
lives thousands of our rescues now enjoy. He isn't ready to die – he whinnies to
the babies; he is excited to watch the horses walk by; he is curious and
affectionate; he is still full of life.
This is a plea to save the life of a horse not ready to die. We are looking to
you the compassionate veterinarians, racing industry experts, organizations and
horse lovers nationwide in the equine community to be willing to take a chance
on this boy name Witch's Trail. To read updates on this boy please visit
https://www.purethoughtshorserescue.com/ottbdivision/witchstrail/index.php
We pray for a miracle and hope that someone who is reading this can rally up
some possibility and suggestions for a young thoroughbred, born to race and now
deserving to live as a horse. We could not humanely euthanize him yesterday; he
is not ready to say goodbye nor are we. Can you help?
Cheryl Hanna
Jennifer Swanson
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Thoroughbred Rehabilitation and Placement
FLTRP@PureThoughtsHorseRescue.com
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Horse & Foal Rescue
19181 Capet Creek
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
www.PTHR.org
561-254-0415
Monday, June 1, 2009
Watching a Late Night TV Show about TB Racing
..and what I have learned tonite.
It is 12:50 a.m. EST and I am watching a show on channel 48 (C-NBC) about horse-racing. I have just learned that a horse must be 3yrs old or under to be eligible to run in the derby. They were talking about the pressure owners are under to get their young horses ready to run in time. I am wondering why do they have to be so young? I read somewhere that back in the early days of TB racing, horses were run older and the races were longer. I read that the older horses run faster than the younger ones. So why are we forcing them to race so young? Of course, that is a rethorical question because we all already know the an$wer.
It is 12:50 a.m. EST and I am watching a show on channel 48 (C-NBC) about horse-racing. I have just learned that a horse must be 3yrs old or under to be eligible to run in the derby. They were talking about the pressure owners are under to get their young horses ready to run in time. I am wondering why do they have to be so young? I read somewhere that back in the early days of TB racing, horses were run older and the races were longer. I read that the older horses run faster than the younger ones. So why are we forcing them to race so young? Of course, that is a rethorical question because we all already know the an$wer.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Artist is inspired by an equine example
Barbaro frames Goodman's charitable act
By Victoria Cherrie
Special to the Observer
Posted: Sunday, May. 24, 2009
Adele Goodman plays with Buck, one of three horses she cares for near her home in Rowan County. Goodman's love for horses led her to paint a portrait of the one still in everyone's heart – Barbaro – the Kentucky Derby champion whose life and death was celebrated and mourned by a nation. DAVID T. FOSTER III – dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com
To purchase this photo | Browse our store
Adele Goodman's portrait of Barbaro will be auctioned Saturday to benefit the Horse Protection Society. PORTRAIT BY ADELE GOODMAN
Adele Goodman throws down hay from the loft for one of three horses she cares for near her Rowan County home. DAVID T. FOSTER III – dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com
To purchase this photo | Browse our store
More Information
Horse Protection Auction
What: More than 300 items will be sold at a fundraising auction for the China Grove-based Horse Protection Society of North Carolina.
When: Saturday. Cocktails at 5:30p.m.; buffet dinner starts at 7.
Where: The Speedway Club, Lowe's Motor Speedway, U.S. 29, Concord.
Tickets: $35.
Details: E-mail hps@horseprotection.org.
Adele Goodman fell in love with horses in the first grade.
She drew her first one when she was 7. By the time she was 8, she was riding her own horse along the corn fields of her family's farm in the Corriher Grange community of Rowan County.
“I love to watch them run. It's like they float,” she said. “They are so powerful and strong, yet so graceful.”
From her childhood sketches, Goodman, 44, blossomed into an artist known for pastel drawings that capture soulful eyes and highlight the spiritual connection between people and their pets.
Her latest work is a 16-by-20-inch portrait of Barbaro, the beloved 2006 Kentucky Derby winner. The portrait will be auctioned Saturday to raise money for the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina.
It's one of the most tedious pieces she's ever accomplished. And it will always be more than just a donated portrait.
This piece taught Goodman how one horse became a hero to children, soldiers and cancer patients. And it should remind others, she said, that all animals are gifts like Barbaro, who – through his own death mourned by a nation – is saving other horses' lives.
“When he died, me and some of the women at work cried,” Goodman said. “He just brought out this compassion in all of us.”
For Goodman – especially when it comes to animals – that's an everyday thing.
Art studio, three horses, 100-acre farm
In a pair of rubber shoes and a lambs wool jacket, Adele Goodman stepped out on a recent chilly evening to wet down some bran mash for her horses – talking the whole time to the dinner crowd – and then topped each meal with bright-green apple pellets.
Buck stomped his feet impatiently as Prince, the youngest, got his bucket first. Inside a century-old barn, Princess, the only girl, reveled in a hearty pat before dipping her copper-toned head to eat.
“Just look at those eyes,” Goodman said, stroking the horse and leaning in for a hug. “She is my baby.”
Goodman's sweet, soft voice is as country as her living in a tiny white cottage on a 100-acre farm surrounded by barley fields and her two dogs, Dudley and Sadie. Barley blossoms swayed in the breeze as a tabby cat danced along the edge of a field near her one-room studio.
Bright sketches of horses, cats and dogs lean against the shelves in the solar-powered room where she spent about 30 hours over two months carefully capturing the ridges of Barbaro's thick veins, the right shades of his nose and the shine off his neck.
A graduate of East Carolina University, Goodman studied with known artists John Faucett and Leslie Tolles-Hudson. She works full time for Penske Racing, but her true love is art. She focuses on nudes, her pet portraits and horses like her own that she connects with through idle conversation.
When she shows up, they give her a horse's version of a purr and whip their tails around.
Goodman had drawn Barbaro's portrait before, after he died. She wanted to memorialize the young horse, who broke his leg at the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, the second leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. She hung it in her booth at art shows for weeks before sending it to Barbaro's veterinarian as a gift.
But she really didn't learn how special Barbaro was until she began trying to get permission for his portrait to make money for the charity. Permission was a requirement, since he was a licensed race horse.
A good friend of Goodman happened to know Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, from college. So she contacted them, and they gushed about Barbaro's life.
The Jacksons said a 12-year-old boy wrote that he'd kept a scrapbook about Barbaro, and now he knew he was in heaven running around with his father, who had died, she said.
Goodman said her Barbaro portrait is simple. There's no background and only a few details in his upper body.
“I wanted everyone to focus on that perfect little majestic face,” she said. “He had these eyes – they were so soulful, so beautiful. I didn't want anything distracting people from him.”
Even in death, Barbaro is still moving people, she said. Friends of Barbaro, a fundraising group started by Alex Brown Racing, has raised more than $1million and has saved more than 2,500 horses from slaughter.
Locally, the Horse Protection Society maintains a sanctuary for neglected horses to be adopted or retire. The center in China Grove also is available to people who can no longer afford to care for their horses and rehabilitates other horses in need.
“There is something about an innocent animal who is struggling or dying,” Goodman said. “I can't get my hands around what it is that touches us so much. It just does.”
Victoria Cherrie is a freelance writer.
Click on title above for full story with slide-show;
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/740345.html
By Victoria Cherrie
Special to the Observer
Posted: Sunday, May. 24, 2009
Adele Goodman plays with Buck, one of three horses she cares for near her home in Rowan County. Goodman's love for horses led her to paint a portrait of the one still in everyone's heart – Barbaro – the Kentucky Derby champion whose life and death was celebrated and mourned by a nation. DAVID T. FOSTER III – dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com
To purchase this photo | Browse our store
Adele Goodman's portrait of Barbaro will be auctioned Saturday to benefit the Horse Protection Society. PORTRAIT BY ADELE GOODMAN
Adele Goodman throws down hay from the loft for one of three horses she cares for near her Rowan County home. DAVID T. FOSTER III – dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com
To purchase this photo | Browse our store
More Information
Horse Protection Auction
What: More than 300 items will be sold at a fundraising auction for the China Grove-based Horse Protection Society of North Carolina.
When: Saturday. Cocktails at 5:30p.m.; buffet dinner starts at 7.
Where: The Speedway Club, Lowe's Motor Speedway, U.S. 29, Concord.
Tickets: $35.
Details: E-mail hps@horseprotection.org.
Adele Goodman fell in love with horses in the first grade.
She drew her first one when she was 7. By the time she was 8, she was riding her own horse along the corn fields of her family's farm in the Corriher Grange community of Rowan County.
“I love to watch them run. It's like they float,” she said. “They are so powerful and strong, yet so graceful.”
From her childhood sketches, Goodman, 44, blossomed into an artist known for pastel drawings that capture soulful eyes and highlight the spiritual connection between people and their pets.
Her latest work is a 16-by-20-inch portrait of Barbaro, the beloved 2006 Kentucky Derby winner. The portrait will be auctioned Saturday to raise money for the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina.
It's one of the most tedious pieces she's ever accomplished. And it will always be more than just a donated portrait.
This piece taught Goodman how one horse became a hero to children, soldiers and cancer patients. And it should remind others, she said, that all animals are gifts like Barbaro, who – through his own death mourned by a nation – is saving other horses' lives.
“When he died, me and some of the women at work cried,” Goodman said. “He just brought out this compassion in all of us.”
For Goodman – especially when it comes to animals – that's an everyday thing.
Art studio, three horses, 100-acre farm
In a pair of rubber shoes and a lambs wool jacket, Adele Goodman stepped out on a recent chilly evening to wet down some bran mash for her horses – talking the whole time to the dinner crowd – and then topped each meal with bright-green apple pellets.
Buck stomped his feet impatiently as Prince, the youngest, got his bucket first. Inside a century-old barn, Princess, the only girl, reveled in a hearty pat before dipping her copper-toned head to eat.
“Just look at those eyes,” Goodman said, stroking the horse and leaning in for a hug. “She is my baby.”
Goodman's sweet, soft voice is as country as her living in a tiny white cottage on a 100-acre farm surrounded by barley fields and her two dogs, Dudley and Sadie. Barley blossoms swayed in the breeze as a tabby cat danced along the edge of a field near her one-room studio.
Bright sketches of horses, cats and dogs lean against the shelves in the solar-powered room where she spent about 30 hours over two months carefully capturing the ridges of Barbaro's thick veins, the right shades of his nose and the shine off his neck.
A graduate of East Carolina University, Goodman studied with known artists John Faucett and Leslie Tolles-Hudson. She works full time for Penske Racing, but her true love is art. She focuses on nudes, her pet portraits and horses like her own that she connects with through idle conversation.
When she shows up, they give her a horse's version of a purr and whip their tails around.
Goodman had drawn Barbaro's portrait before, after he died. She wanted to memorialize the young horse, who broke his leg at the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, the second leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. She hung it in her booth at art shows for weeks before sending it to Barbaro's veterinarian as a gift.
But she really didn't learn how special Barbaro was until she began trying to get permission for his portrait to make money for the charity. Permission was a requirement, since he was a licensed race horse.
A good friend of Goodman happened to know Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, from college. So she contacted them, and they gushed about Barbaro's life.
The Jacksons said a 12-year-old boy wrote that he'd kept a scrapbook about Barbaro, and now he knew he was in heaven running around with his father, who had died, she said.
Goodman said her Barbaro portrait is simple. There's no background and only a few details in his upper body.
“I wanted everyone to focus on that perfect little majestic face,” she said. “He had these eyes – they were so soulful, so beautiful. I didn't want anything distracting people from him.”
Even in death, Barbaro is still moving people, she said. Friends of Barbaro, a fundraising group started by Alex Brown Racing, has raised more than $1million and has saved more than 2,500 horses from slaughter.
Locally, the Horse Protection Society maintains a sanctuary for neglected horses to be adopted or retire. The center in China Grove also is available to people who can no longer afford to care for their horses and rehabilitates other horses in need.
“There is something about an innocent animal who is struggling or dying,” Goodman said. “I can't get my hands around what it is that touches us so much. It just does.”
Victoria Cherrie is a freelance writer.
Click on title above for full story with slide-show;
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/740345.html
Special Interest a Conflict of Interest?
Click on title above to see what you think, concerning NY state racing;
http://greedybastardsclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/special-interest-conflict-of-interest.html
http://greedybastardsclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/special-interest-conflict-of-interest.html
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Further Evidence of PAST POST BETTING
Posted by: XXXXXX XXX
Mon May 25, 2009 3:50 pm (PDT)
Txxxx,
I know this is something you strongly believe goes on, and I found the below link very, very interesting. A CONFIRMED past-posting incident from hollywood park recently...
I'll post the link in a second, but there were 2 incidences at the Meadowlands today that motivated me to even do a search on the topic.. Margarita Momma in the 4th today.. is 2/1 well past the quarter, and then at the next odds switch drops to 1/1... yes, i know, she was the heavy ML favorite, so maybe that can be excused... then in the 7th race, #1 Vesuvio As is 5/2 going to the quarter, and #2 Hot Shot Blue Chip is 7/2... well, Hot Shot Blue Chip makes a break, and at the next odds flash, he was drifted to 9/2, while Vesuvio As goes to 8/5...... Say what you want, but this just does not look good.....
here is the hollywood link..
http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/hollywood-park-past-posting-incident-under-investigation/
Fxxxxx,
thanks for link, well documented.....truth is these are just a few of the
stories told.
At my local HUB (OTB), I know every teller on a first name
basis........they have for years punched tickets on windows that don't close. Sometimes,
it is 30 secs after the bell, sometimes a minutes, sometimes until the race
finishes, other times it's never.
One particular instance, a Huge track like Hollywood didn't close the race
and they punched out numerous straight superfecta's. Caused the payoff to
drop to $3,000 on what should have been $8-12K.
The Feds came in and actually waxed 2 or 3 of the tellers for that
instance.....
Now toss in The Big M's survival challenge infiltrated by the upstate New
York hacker(s).
the list goes on and on.....
we have two forces of nature at play:
1> the tellers or track computer geeks that have the ability to change
things
2> the outside hackers who can figure out a way to past post.
Only way to fix some or any of the problems is a commissioner like I have
stated numerous times.
I, like you, believe it happens at the Big M a good bit, the Person(s) that
does it though is a good vandal, he strikes and then goes away....greed
has not caught up with him to do it night after night, it seems more every
3-4 months...IMO
thanks for sharing your thoughts
Txxxx
Mon May 25, 2009 3:50 pm (PDT)
Txxxx,
I know this is something you strongly believe goes on, and I found the below link very, very interesting. A CONFIRMED past-posting incident from hollywood park recently...
I'll post the link in a second, but there were 2 incidences at the Meadowlands today that motivated me to even do a search on the topic.. Margarita Momma in the 4th today.. is 2/1 well past the quarter, and then at the next odds switch drops to 1/1... yes, i know, she was the heavy ML favorite, so maybe that can be excused... then in the 7th race, #1 Vesuvio As is 5/2 going to the quarter, and #2 Hot Shot Blue Chip is 7/2... well, Hot Shot Blue Chip makes a break, and at the next odds flash, he was drifted to 9/2, while Vesuvio As goes to 8/5...... Say what you want, but this just does not look good.....
here is the hollywood link..
http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/hollywood-park-past-posting-incident-under-investigation/
Fxxxxx,
thanks for link, well documented.....truth is these are just a few of the
stories told.
At my local HUB (OTB), I know every teller on a first name
basis........they have for years punched tickets on windows that don't close. Sometimes,
it is 30 secs after the bell, sometimes a minutes, sometimes until the race
finishes, other times it's never.
One particular instance, a Huge track like Hollywood didn't close the race
and they punched out numerous straight superfecta's. Caused the payoff to
drop to $3,000 on what should have been $8-12K.
The Feds came in and actually waxed 2 or 3 of the tellers for that
instance.....
Now toss in The Big M's survival challenge infiltrated by the upstate New
York hacker(s).
the list goes on and on.....
we have two forces of nature at play:
1> the tellers or track computer geeks that have the ability to change
things
2> the outside hackers who can figure out a way to past post.
Only way to fix some or any of the problems is a commissioner like I have
stated numerous times.
I, like you, believe it happens at the Big M a good bit, the Person(s) that
does it though is a good vandal, he strikes and then goes away....greed
has not caught up with him to do it night after night, it seems more every
3-4 months...IMO
thanks for sharing your thoughts
Txxxx
Monday, May 25, 2009
Jockey Douglas Paralyzed in Lower Extremities
Not to worry, the racing industry takes good care of their disabled jockeys, right? By Claire Novak
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 11:11 AM
Jockey Rene Douglas came out of a seven-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital on May 24 without feeling in his lower extremities, and doctors there said the 42-year-old rider may not walk again, agent Dennis Cooper reported on May 24.
Douglas, who entered surgery around 2:30 a.m. (CST) and came out around 9:30 a.m., was injured in a racing accident at Arlington Park in the May 23 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III).
"They said he might not walk again, it didn't look like," Cooper said. "He'll probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that he's not likely to walk. They won't be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesn't look good."
Douglas will remain in the intensive care unit of Northwestern for two weeks, until he moves to rehab.
"It's devastating," Cooper said.
Douglas was worked on by a team of specialists who made efforts to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the rider's neck. But the main concerns centered on Douglas' spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone, Cooper said.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and able to speak with his wife before he was moved to surgery. Doctors had him transferred via helicopter from Northwest Hospital near Arlington to Northwestern before they began the procedure. He had initially lost feeling in his lower extremities after the accident, but was reported to have regained some feeling in his legs while still at the first hospital. He was also complaining of pain in his arms and back.
Douglas was thrown from his mount in the Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) when the 4-year-old Born to Be was bumped by Sky Mom, clipped heels with Boudoir, and fell in upper stretch. Born to Be flipped and tossed Douglas over her head, then landed on top of the prone rider. Track workers had to drag the daughter of A.P. Indy off of Douglas before he could be transferred to a backboard. He was removed from the track via ambulance, as was his mount.
Cooper said he had been told that the horse, trained by Eric Coatreiux, had recovered from the incident. A spokesperson for Arlington Park said the filly returned to the barn and had not been euthanized on the day of the accident.
"She went straight down head over heels just like in slow motion," Cooper said. "She hit him with her whole body, dropped there on top of him and just laid there."
The filly remained on the track for several moments before being transferred to the equine ambulance. Sky Mom, who finished fifth, was disqualified for interfering with Born to Be and was placed last.
Douglas has been the leading rider at Arlington six times (2001-2004 and 2007-2008) and holds the record for most consecutive titles at the Chicago track with four (2001-2004). This season, he was tied with E.T. Baird in the early contest for leading rider honors at the track with 15 wins going into the May 23 card.
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 11:11 AM
Jockey Rene Douglas came out of a seven-hour surgery at Northwestern Hospital on May 24 without feeling in his lower extremities, and doctors there said the 42-year-old rider may not walk again, agent Dennis Cooper reported on May 24.
Douglas, who entered surgery around 2:30 a.m. (CST) and came out around 9:30 a.m., was injured in a racing accident at Arlington Park in the May 23 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III).
"They said he might not walk again, it didn't look like," Cooper said. "He'll probably have use of his upper body, but they gave it to me straight that he's not likely to walk. They won't be a million percent sure until after the swelling goes down in about 10 to 14 days, but it doesn't look good."
Douglas will remain in the intensive care unit of Northwestern for two weeks, until he moves to rehab.
"It's devastating," Cooper said.
Douglas was worked on by a team of specialists who made efforts to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to the rider's neck. But the main concerns centered on Douglas' spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone, Cooper said.
Cooper said Douglas was alert and able to speak with his wife before he was moved to surgery. Doctors had him transferred via helicopter from Northwest Hospital near Arlington to Northwestern before they began the procedure. He had initially lost feeling in his lower extremities after the accident, but was reported to have regained some feeling in his legs while still at the first hospital. He was also complaining of pain in his arms and back.
Douglas was thrown from his mount in the Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) when the 4-year-old Born to Be was bumped by Sky Mom, clipped heels with Boudoir, and fell in upper stretch. Born to Be flipped and tossed Douglas over her head, then landed on top of the prone rider. Track workers had to drag the daughter of A.P. Indy off of Douglas before he could be transferred to a backboard. He was removed from the track via ambulance, as was his mount.
Cooper said he had been told that the horse, trained by Eric Coatreiux, had recovered from the incident. A spokesperson for Arlington Park said the filly returned to the barn and had not been euthanized on the day of the accident.
"She went straight down head over heels just like in slow motion," Cooper said. "She hit him with her whole body, dropped there on top of him and just laid there."
The filly remained on the track for several moments before being transferred to the equine ambulance. Sky Mom, who finished fifth, was disqualified for interfering with Born to Be and was placed last.
Douglas has been the leading rider at Arlington six times (2001-2004 and 2007-2008) and holds the record for most consecutive titles at the Chicago track with four (2001-2004). This season, he was tied with E.T. Baird in the early contest for leading rider honors at the track with 15 wins going into the May 23 card.
Oneida Capital LLC to Expand Racing/Gaming Operations to Idaho
Another group interested in horse racing at Les Bois; Greene Group gets good news
Nick Jezierny - njezierny@idahostatesman.com
Published: 05/19/09 - Idaho Statesman
Ada County commissioners have received a letter from Oneida Capital LLC, which owns and operates racing and gaming facilities in Montana, Nevada, New York and Wyoming, stating it would like to meet with the county officials and discuss a lease proposal for Les Bois Park.
Ada County Public Information Director Rich Wright said the commissioners likely will entertain a proposal from Oneida, though no meeting date has been finalized.
Edward Spector, who signed Oneida's letter to the county, didn't immediately return a telephone call from The Idaho Statesman.
Oneida joins the Greene Group, an Alabama-based company that operates a simulcast center and a charitable bingo operation in Post Falls, as potential operators for the horse racing track located at Expo Idaho.
On Tuesday, the Greene Group received good news in its quest to be awarded the lease when the Idaho Lottery Commission gave the group a clean bill of health, which was "one hurdle" in possibly securing the lease.
Ada County commissioners stopped lease negotiations with the Greene Group because of some findings in a recent audit by the state lottery.
Those issues, many of which were about the interpretation of state statutes, are gone now.
"We have no issues going forward with them to conduct charitable gaming," said Jeff Anderson, a director of the Idaho Lottery Commission.
The public meeting also attracted Ada County staff. Commissioner Sharon Ullman said "this was one hurdle" the Greene Group had to clear before taking the next step, which appears to be the two parties negotiating terms of a lease.
"This means we have some talking to do," Ullman said. "I can't give you a timetable."
Scott Okuniewicz, the general manager of the Greene Group's simulcast operation in Post Falls and the president of the group's charitable gaming operation, said his group is waiting for the county to provide a list of equipment that is included in the lease.
"We're going to meet with them and get a list of the property that comes with the lease so we can better determine a fair lease price," Okuniewicz said.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/775519.html?storylink=omni_popular
Nick Jezierny - njezierny@idahostatesman.com
Published: 05/19/09 - Idaho Statesman
Ada County commissioners have received a letter from Oneida Capital LLC, which owns and operates racing and gaming facilities in Montana, Nevada, New York and Wyoming, stating it would like to meet with the county officials and discuss a lease proposal for Les Bois Park.
Ada County Public Information Director Rich Wright said the commissioners likely will entertain a proposal from Oneida, though no meeting date has been finalized.
Edward Spector, who signed Oneida's letter to the county, didn't immediately return a telephone call from The Idaho Statesman.
Oneida joins the Greene Group, an Alabama-based company that operates a simulcast center and a charitable bingo operation in Post Falls, as potential operators for the horse racing track located at Expo Idaho.
On Tuesday, the Greene Group received good news in its quest to be awarded the lease when the Idaho Lottery Commission gave the group a clean bill of health, which was "one hurdle" in possibly securing the lease.
Ada County commissioners stopped lease negotiations with the Greene Group because of some findings in a recent audit by the state lottery.
Those issues, many of which were about the interpretation of state statutes, are gone now.
"We have no issues going forward with them to conduct charitable gaming," said Jeff Anderson, a director of the Idaho Lottery Commission.
The public meeting also attracted Ada County staff. Commissioner Sharon Ullman said "this was one hurdle" the Greene Group had to clear before taking the next step, which appears to be the two parties negotiating terms of a lease.
"This means we have some talking to do," Ullman said. "I can't give you a timetable."
Scott Okuniewicz, the general manager of the Greene Group's simulcast operation in Post Falls and the president of the group's charitable gaming operation, said his group is waiting for the county to provide a list of equipment that is included in the lease.
"We're going to meet with them and get a list of the property that comes with the lease so we can better determine a fair lease price," Okuniewicz said.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/775519.html?storylink=omni_popular
Saturday, May 23, 2009
NY to Enact Racehorse Protection Law
Maybe they should call it Ernie Paragallos Law." Of course, the racehorse slaughter" issue is not even mentioned here, in this new proposed bill. There will be no protections in this bill to prevent racehorses from going to slaughter. Maybe now would be a good time to contact these NY legislators and let them know what a good idea we think it would be to write this protection in. After all, if they are really so concerned about "racehorse welfare," why in the world wouldnt they?????
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
New York lawmakers want to close cruelty loophole
>
> by Paul Post
>
> New York lawmakers plan to introduce legislation that would close an
> apparent loophole and make mistreatment of race horses a felony.
>
> On April 10, Thoroughbred owner Ernest Paragallo was charged with 22
> misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, two days after authorities
> raided
> his Center Brook Farm in Climax, Greene County, and seized 177 horses,
> three of which had to be euthanized.
>
> Paragallo has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail.
>
> Unlike "Buster’s Law," which deals with the abuse of companion animals
> such as cats and dogs, equine cruelty does not carry felony status.
>
> Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R-Greenwich) and state Senator Roy McDonald
> (R-Saratoga) both represent portions of Saratoga County, home of
> Saratoga Race Course. The lawmakers are seeking to make cruelty toward
> race horses a felony.
>
> "As we are discovering now, a race horse breeder can be charged with
> the
> significant mistreatment of the animals he is employed to raise and
> care
> for, but there is no provision to charge him with a felony or ban him
> from complete involvement in horse racing," Jordan said. "This gap
> needs
> to be closed and this is exactly what Senator McDonald and I are going
> to work towards accomplishing by putting forward this legislation to
> bring about this necessary change.”
>
> The bill, expected to be introduced shortly, would specifically be
> geared toward race horses, not farm animals. It would fall under state
> racing and wagering law, not agriculture and markets.
>
> Jordan and McDonald said they plan to meet with racing leaders to make
> sure the law helps and protects horses and the industry. McDonald is a
> member of the Senate Racing, Wagering and Gaming Committee.
>
> "We need to ensure the safety of these beautiful and incredible
> animals,
> because they play a significant role in the agricultural community
> here
> in upstate New York," he said. "We also need to protect our nationally
> recognized breeding program by preventing these animals from being
> mistreated, and also having the means to remove the individual who
> instituted that mistreatment. It is also important to recognize that
> studies have shown that people who hurt animals will eventually cause
> harm to other people."
>
> A legal conference between prosecutors and Paragallo’s attorney is
> scheduled for June 22. The state Racing and Wagering Board and New
> York
> Racing Association have stripped him of all racing privileges pending
> the outcome of upcoming legal action.
>
> Paul Post is a New York-based THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent
>
>
>
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
New York lawmakers want to close cruelty loophole
>
> by Paul Post
>
> New York lawmakers plan to introduce legislation that would close an
> apparent loophole and make mistreatment of race horses a felony.
>
> On April 10, Thoroughbred owner Ernest Paragallo was charged with 22
> misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, two days after authorities
> raided
> his Center Brook Farm in Climax, Greene County, and seized 177 horses,
> three of which had to be euthanized.
>
> Paragallo has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail.
>
> Unlike "Buster’s Law," which deals with the abuse of companion animals
> such as cats and dogs, equine cruelty does not carry felony status.
>
> Assemblyman Tony Jordan (R-Greenwich) and state Senator Roy McDonald
> (R-Saratoga) both represent portions of Saratoga County, home of
> Saratoga Race Course. The lawmakers are seeking to make cruelty toward
> race horses a felony.
>
> "As we are discovering now, a race horse breeder can be charged with
> the
> significant mistreatment of the animals he is employed to raise and
> care
> for, but there is no provision to charge him with a felony or ban him
> from complete involvement in horse racing," Jordan said. "This gap
> needs
> to be closed and this is exactly what Senator McDonald and I are going
> to work towards accomplishing by putting forward this legislation to
> bring about this necessary change.”
>
> The bill, expected to be introduced shortly, would specifically be
> geared toward race horses, not farm animals. It would fall under state
> racing and wagering law, not agriculture and markets.
>
> Jordan and McDonald said they plan to meet with racing leaders to make
> sure the law helps and protects horses and the industry. McDonald is a
> member of the Senate Racing, Wagering and Gaming Committee.
>
> "We need to ensure the safety of these beautiful and incredible
> animals,
> because they play a significant role in the agricultural community
> here
> in upstate New York," he said. "We also need to protect our nationally
> recognized breeding program by preventing these animals from being
> mistreated, and also having the means to remove the individual who
> instituted that mistreatment. It is also important to recognize that
> studies have shown that people who hurt animals will eventually cause
> harm to other people."
>
> A legal conference between prosecutors and Paragallo’s attorney is
> scheduled for June 22. The state Racing and Wagering Board and New
> York
> Racing Association have stripped him of all racing privileges pending
> the outcome of upcoming legal action.
>
> Paul Post is a New York-based THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent
>
>
>
Friday, May 15, 2009
Racetrack veterinarian's 5-year suspension upheld
May 14, 2009
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Lexington, Ky. -- The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) this week upheld the five-year suspension of a track veterinarian accused of possessing banned medications, including cobra venom.
The commission decided to adopt a hearing officer's recommendation filed April 6 stating that two suspensions totaling five years against Dr. Rodney Stewart are "legally supportable" and that "the penalties were imposed in connection with the possession of the most highly dangerous substances and serious violations of commission regulations, which represent a catastrophic threat to the safety of horses and riders."
In September 2007, racing stewards suspended Stewart four years for possession of alpha cobra toxin and one year for possession of carbidopa and levodopa. Stewart also was under other suspensions for medication labeling violations and other infractions, but those run concurrently with the five-year suspension.
The five-year total is believed to be the longest one the commission has ever imposed.
Stewart, a resident of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., had appealed on grounds of the suspensions' severity, saying he had cooperated with investigators and provided all records they requested. The suspensions prevent him from practicing at any racetrack, including New York, and from practicing on any performance animals (horses, greyhounds and camels), including in Australia where he is from.
An earlier suspension against him, dating from August 2007, was dismissed based on his cooperation with investigators by turning over some records.
At a hearing before the KHRC last December, Stewart said three vials of powdered cobra venom found in a refrigerator at a training barn at Keeneland race course in Lexington were there only by chance, packed in a case in transit on his way to New York, and that he never gave cobra venom to an active racehorse. The venom, used to deaden nerves, has limited therapeutic use in non-racing horses but is banned at racetracks. There is no test that can detect it. Stewart said in December he bought the powdered venom in 2006 from a Florida veterinary supplier and used some of it only once, to treat a retired racehorse with a sore right front foot.
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+Equine/Racetrack-veterinarians-5-year-suspension-upheld/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/598302?contextCategoryId=378&ref=25
DVM NEWSMAGAZINE
Lexington, Ky. -- The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) this week upheld the five-year suspension of a track veterinarian accused of possessing banned medications, including cobra venom.
The commission decided to adopt a hearing officer's recommendation filed April 6 stating that two suspensions totaling five years against Dr. Rodney Stewart are "legally supportable" and that "the penalties were imposed in connection with the possession of the most highly dangerous substances and serious violations of commission regulations, which represent a catastrophic threat to the safety of horses and riders."
In September 2007, racing stewards suspended Stewart four years for possession of alpha cobra toxin and one year for possession of carbidopa and levodopa. Stewart also was under other suspensions for medication labeling violations and other infractions, but those run concurrently with the five-year suspension.
The five-year total is believed to be the longest one the commission has ever imposed.
Stewart, a resident of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., had appealed on grounds of the suspensions' severity, saying he had cooperated with investigators and provided all records they requested. The suspensions prevent him from practicing at any racetrack, including New York, and from practicing on any performance animals (horses, greyhounds and camels), including in Australia where he is from.
An earlier suspension against him, dating from August 2007, was dismissed based on his cooperation with investigators by turning over some records.
At a hearing before the KHRC last December, Stewart said three vials of powdered cobra venom found in a refrigerator at a training barn at Keeneland race course in Lexington were there only by chance, packed in a case in transit on his way to New York, and that he never gave cobra venom to an active racehorse. The venom, used to deaden nerves, has limited therapeutic use in non-racing horses but is banned at racetracks. There is no test that can detect it. Stewart said in December he bought the powdered venom in 2006 from a Florida veterinary supplier and used some of it only once, to treat a retired racehorse with a sore right front foot.
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+Equine/Racetrack-veterinarians-5-year-suspension-upheld/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/598302?contextCategoryId=378&ref=25
Monday, May 11, 2009
Brumbies to Dubai
Running, but not wild: Dubai warms to brumbies
Andrew Stevenson in Dubai
May 9, 2009
THEIR names are Luca, Marran and Paraku. Born in the Kimberley and captured in Western Australia last year, the three brumbies are starting a new life in the stables of the deputy ruler of Dubai, Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
They and 11 other brumbies including a young colt have left life as wild bush horses far behind. In the sheik's stables they are training for the demanding sport of endurance racing.
Their arrival in Dubai completes a circle of sorts. Born wild, their pedigree traces back to the Arab horses taken to Europe over many centuries, the stock from which the modern thoroughbred was made.
The horse, once the most important animal in Australia, still stands at the heart of Bedouin culture - and when Ali Mohammed Al Mohairi, Sheik Hamdan's racing manager, heard tales of the brumbies in Australia, he wanted to know more.
Two years ago he went bush in the Northern Territory to see brumbies up close. But wild horses stop for no man.
"There was a mare and foal and they were galloping from behind and I yelled to go, I was screaming at the driver," he recalled. "It was something amazing. Then they crossed in front of us and the sparks were coming off the road. When they came to a lake, they jumped straight in and swam across.
"There was a rocky hill on the other side and I said: 'Impossible, they will not climb that'. And they did.
"My imagination cannot go as far as this. I was amazed. And [then] they were gone and we never saw them again."
But the story, worthy of an Arab Paterson in Mr Al Mohairi's retelling, took root. Sheik Hamdan, a leading racehorse owner and winner of two Melbourne Cups, was intrigued by the animals' capability in the wild but also concerned the brumbies - there are an estimated 400,000 in Australia - were being culled.
"I felt I wanted to do something to help this animal. I told him people shoot them, five or six hundred at a time, and I said we [can] get some to try," Mr Al Mohairi said.
The next step was to send a team into Lake Gregory, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, and to catch a dozen or so brumbies which were then trucked to Glen Innes, NSW, where they were broken in before being flown to Dubai.
One mare, Marran, dropped a skewbald colt after capture. Marjii might have grown up in Arabia but he can't hide his past.
"He's happy, friendly and playing but you can tell he's a brumby, with his face, big and ugly," Mr Mohairi said.
The horses arrived last year and since then several have been prepared for endurance racing, which is conducted under the enthusiastic patronage of Dubai's royal family, notably Sheik Hamdan's brother, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the country's ruler, who also competes in the events.
On the track the brumbies' results have not been a complete success. The horses have speed, and can rapidly recover after running one stage of the race, but they don't want to run again.
"They're not tired but they take care of themselves," said Mr Al Mohairi, who believes their wild instincts lead them to to preserve their energy for whenever it might be needed in the future.
But the experiment at Seeh Al Salam stables will be given at least another year. "People here are waiting to see what this stable will do. If we do well with them, they will go there and do the same as we did," Mr Al Mohairi said.
"To be honest, we spent money on them and I hope it will work. It will help me to look good in front of my boss because I asked him to do it, plus it will help the horses."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/horseracing/running-but-not-wild-dubai-warms-to-brumbies/2009/05/08/1241727604379.html
Andrew Stevenson in Dubai
May 9, 2009
THEIR names are Luca, Marran and Paraku. Born in the Kimberley and captured in Western Australia last year, the three brumbies are starting a new life in the stables of the deputy ruler of Dubai, Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
They and 11 other brumbies including a young colt have left life as wild bush horses far behind. In the sheik's stables they are training for the demanding sport of endurance racing.
Their arrival in Dubai completes a circle of sorts. Born wild, their pedigree traces back to the Arab horses taken to Europe over many centuries, the stock from which the modern thoroughbred was made.
The horse, once the most important animal in Australia, still stands at the heart of Bedouin culture - and when Ali Mohammed Al Mohairi, Sheik Hamdan's racing manager, heard tales of the brumbies in Australia, he wanted to know more.
Two years ago he went bush in the Northern Territory to see brumbies up close. But wild horses stop for no man.
"There was a mare and foal and they were galloping from behind and I yelled to go, I was screaming at the driver," he recalled. "It was something amazing. Then they crossed in front of us and the sparks were coming off the road. When they came to a lake, they jumped straight in and swam across.
"There was a rocky hill on the other side and I said: 'Impossible, they will not climb that'. And they did.
"My imagination cannot go as far as this. I was amazed. And [then] they were gone and we never saw them again."
But the story, worthy of an Arab Paterson in Mr Al Mohairi's retelling, took root. Sheik Hamdan, a leading racehorse owner and winner of two Melbourne Cups, was intrigued by the animals' capability in the wild but also concerned the brumbies - there are an estimated 400,000 in Australia - were being culled.
"I felt I wanted to do something to help this animal. I told him people shoot them, five or six hundred at a time, and I said we [can] get some to try," Mr Al Mohairi said.
The next step was to send a team into Lake Gregory, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, and to catch a dozen or so brumbies which were then trucked to Glen Innes, NSW, where they were broken in before being flown to Dubai.
One mare, Marran, dropped a skewbald colt after capture. Marjii might have grown up in Arabia but he can't hide his past.
"He's happy, friendly and playing but you can tell he's a brumby, with his face, big and ugly," Mr Mohairi said.
The horses arrived last year and since then several have been prepared for endurance racing, which is conducted under the enthusiastic patronage of Dubai's royal family, notably Sheik Hamdan's brother, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the country's ruler, who also competes in the events.
On the track the brumbies' results have not been a complete success. The horses have speed, and can rapidly recover after running one stage of the race, but they don't want to run again.
"They're not tired but they take care of themselves," said Mr Al Mohairi, who believes their wild instincts lead them to to preserve their energy for whenever it might be needed in the future.
But the experiment at Seeh Al Salam stables will be given at least another year. "People here are waiting to see what this stable will do. If we do well with them, they will go there and do the same as we did," Mr Al Mohairi said.
"To be honest, we spent money on them and I hope it will work. It will help me to look good in front of my boss because I asked him to do it, plus it will help the horses."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/horseracing/running-but-not-wild-dubai-warms-to-brumbies/2009/05/08/1241727604379.html
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Race is On for Swine Flu Vaccine: BIG Pharma a FAV to Win
INFLUENZA A (H1N1) - WORLDWIDE (21)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Fri 8 May 2009
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), EPR [edited]
For the current influenza A(H1N1) virus, WHO Collaborating Centres
for influenza (WHO CCs), Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) and
other institutions are developing candidate vaccine viruses under the
coordination of WHO (1). Once a vaccine virus is available, WHO will
announce the availability on its public website (2). For general
queries, please email to.
Candidate vaccine viruses using reverse genetics technology are being
developed by:
- WHO CC in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Atlanta USA, from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected availability
end of May 2009. Email queries to:.
- ERL in the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
(NIBSC), UK, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl and A/England/195/2009
(H1N1)swl. Expected availability end of May 2009. Email queries to:
.
- ERL in the Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER),
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) USA, from
A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and A/Texas/5/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected
availability not yet known. Email queries to:.
- WHO CC at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis USA,
from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl, A/New York/20/2009(H1N1)swl and
A/Ohio/7/2009 (H1N1)swl. Expected availability not yet known. Email
queries to:.
- WHO CC at National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Japan,
from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl.
Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:.
- CSL Limited, Australia, from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and
A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected availability not yet known.
Email queries:.
Candidate vaccine viruses using classical reassortment technology are
being developed by:
- ERL NIBSC, UK, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl, an egg virus
isolate. Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:
.
- New York Medical College, USA, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl.
Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:.
- CSL Limited, Australia, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected
availability not yet known. Email queries:.
Development of vaccine potency reagents for inactivated vaccines
against influenza A(H1N1) is planned in:
- ERL NIBSC, UK. Email queries to:
- ERL CBER FDA, USA. Email queries to:
- ERL, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia. Email
queries:
- ERL NIID, Japan. Email queries:
Wild type viruses have been/ are being sent to vaccine manufacturers
on request including: Baxter, CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals, MedImmune, Microgen, Nobilon International, Novartis,
Omninvest Vaccines, Pasteur, Solvay and Vivaldi.
References:
(1) WHO coordinates WHO CCs, National Influenza Centers and ERLs.
This network is monitoring the evolution of influenza viruses, both
seasonal and those with potential to cause a pandemic, including the
current influenza A(H1N1). The network also provides recommendations
and updates on diagnostics, monitors the susceptibility of emerging
influenza viruses to antiviral drugs, and selects, develops and
distributes vaccine viruses.
(2)
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (20): case counts 20090510.1741
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (19) 20090509.1733
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (18): case counts 20090509.1728
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (17) 20090508.1722
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (16): case counts 20090507.1715
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (15) 20090507.1709
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (14): case counts 20090507.1702
Influenza A (
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Fri 8 May 2009
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), EPR [edited]
For the current influenza A(H1N1) virus, WHO Collaborating Centres
for influenza (WHO CCs), Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) and
other institutions are developing candidate vaccine viruses under the
coordination of WHO (1). Once a vaccine virus is available, WHO will
announce the availability on its public website (2). For general
queries, please email to
Candidate vaccine viruses using reverse genetics technology are being
developed by:
- WHO CC in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Atlanta USA, from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected availability
end of May 2009. Email queries to:
- ERL in the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
(NIBSC), UK, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl and A/England/195/2009
(H1N1)swl. Expected availability end of May 2009. Email queries to:
- ERL in the Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER),
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) USA, from
A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and A/Texas/5/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected
availability not yet known. Email queries to:
- WHO CC at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis USA,
from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl, A/New York/20/2009(H1N1)swl and
A/Ohio/7/2009 (H1N1)swl. Expected availability not yet known. Email
queries to:
- WHO CC at National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Japan,
from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl.
Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:
- CSL Limited, Australia, from A/California/4/2009(H1N1)swl and
A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected availability not yet known.
Email queries:
Candidate vaccine viruses using classical reassortment technology are
being developed by:
- ERL NIBSC, UK, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl, an egg virus
isolate. Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:
- New York Medical College, USA, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl.
Expected availability not yet known. Email queries:
- CSL Limited, Australia, from A/California/7/2009(H1N1)swl. Expected
availability not yet known. Email queries:
Development of vaccine potency reagents for inactivated vaccines
against influenza A(H1N1) is planned in:
- ERL NIBSC, UK. Email queries to:
- ERL CBER FDA, USA. Email queries to:
- ERL, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia. Email
queries:
- ERL NIID, Japan. Email queries:
Wild type viruses have been/ are being sent to vaccine manufacturers
on request including: Baxter, CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals, MedImmune, Microgen, Nobilon International, Novartis,
Omninvest Vaccines, Pasteur, Solvay and Vivaldi.
References:
(1) WHO coordinates WHO CCs, National Influenza Centers and ERLs.
This network is monitoring the evolution of influenza viruses, both
seasonal and those with potential to cause a pandemic, including the
current influenza A(H1N1). The network also provides recommendations
and updates on diagnostics, monitors the susceptibility of emerging
influenza viruses to antiviral drugs, and selects, develops and
distributes vaccine viruses.
(2)
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
[see also:
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (20): case counts 20090510.1741
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (19) 20090509.1733
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (18): case counts 20090509.1728
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (17) 20090508.1722
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (16): case counts 20090507.1715
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (15) 20090507.1709
Influenza A (H1N1) - worldwide (14): case counts 20090507.1702
Influenza A (
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Magna in Bankruptcy: What, no bailout?
By JOE DRAPE
Published: March 5, 2009
Magna Entertainment Corporation, which owns some of the most prominent horse racing tracks in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court Thursday and announced that it would sell Gulfstream Park in Florida and other racetracks to its parent company and largest creditor.
In a news release, M.E.C. said it had arranged a six-month secured loan of $62.5 million from a subsidiary of M.I. Developments, its controlling shareholder. It will use that money to protect certain assets and keep racing going at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and its other tracks. In the filing, there is no clear arrangement to protect Pimlico, which hosts the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“Simply put, M.E.C. has far too much debt and interest expense,” its chairman, Frank Stronach, said in a statement. Stronach, who built his fortune with the Canadian auto parts maker Magna International and assembled his track holdings over the past 10 years, controls Magna Entertainment and M.I. Developments, whose top assets are real estate.
“M.E.C. has previously pursued numerous out-of-court restructuring alternatives but has been unable to complete a comprehensive restructuring to date due, in part, to the current economic recession, severe downturn in the U.S. real estate market, and global credit crisis,” Stronach added.
The other holdings Magna apparently values in its agreement with M.I. Developments include the Palm Meadows training center in Florida, Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, Lone Star Park in Texas and its wagering companies AmTote and XpressBet. M.I. Developments has agreed to buy the assets for $44 million in cash, the rights to a $15 million lease and a credit on $136 million in debt Magna owes to M.I. Developments. It leaves open the possibility that the properties could be sold to a third party for a higher bid.
Magna has lost $500 million over the last five years. The filing was prompted by the fact it has $200 million of debt coming due over the next few weeks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/sports/othersports/06magna.html
Published: March 5, 2009
Magna Entertainment Corporation, which owns some of the most prominent horse racing tracks in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court Thursday and announced that it would sell Gulfstream Park in Florida and other racetracks to its parent company and largest creditor.
In a news release, M.E.C. said it had arranged a six-month secured loan of $62.5 million from a subsidiary of M.I. Developments, its controlling shareholder. It will use that money to protect certain assets and keep racing going at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and its other tracks. In the filing, there is no clear arrangement to protect Pimlico, which hosts the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“Simply put, M.E.C. has far too much debt and interest expense,” its chairman, Frank Stronach, said in a statement. Stronach, who built his fortune with the Canadian auto parts maker Magna International and assembled his track holdings over the past 10 years, controls Magna Entertainment and M.I. Developments, whose top assets are real estate.
“M.E.C. has previously pursued numerous out-of-court restructuring alternatives but has been unable to complete a comprehensive restructuring to date due, in part, to the current economic recession, severe downturn in the U.S. real estate market, and global credit crisis,” Stronach added.
The other holdings Magna apparently values in its agreement with M.I. Developments include the Palm Meadows training center in Florida, Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, Lone Star Park in Texas and its wagering companies AmTote and XpressBet. M.I. Developments has agreed to buy the assets for $44 million in cash, the rights to a $15 million lease and a credit on $136 million in debt Magna owes to M.I. Developments. It leaves open the possibility that the properties could be sold to a third party for a higher bid.
Magna has lost $500 million over the last five years. The filing was prompted by the fact it has $200 million of debt coming due over the next few weeks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/06/sports/othersports/06magna.html
Horse Racing As Public Good?
By Marc Scribner,"OpenMarket.Org."
Maryland politicians really have their hands full as the legislative session draws to a close. Instead of focusing on their state’s looming long-term budget crisis, the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Martin O’Malley spent yesterday working on a far more important issue: authorizing the use of public resources to seize and operate the Preakness Stakes.
The owner of the Preakness and its Pimlico race track, Magna Entertainment, is currently in federal bankruptcy. Last week, a Baltimore Sun editorial compared the oh-so-dire situation to the 1984 Baltimore Colts’ move to Indianapolis (in part precipitated by the city’s threat of eminent domain condemnation), when the city attempted and failed to seize the team through eminent domain a day after it had already left for Indiana.
The presumption seems to be that municipalities and states are somehow entitled to their sports teams and facilities, regardless of current ownership and market conditions, and that spending public money on such ventures is beneficial to the local economy. But one need only look at neighboring Washington, DC’s ongoing depressing experience with the billion dollar Nationals Park/Navy Yard debacle to get a handle on how ridiculous this line of thought is. Unfortunately, given the current “stimulus” culture, this probably won’t be the last time a government decides to initiate eminent domain or subsidize development for the purpose of “saving sports.”
Maryland politicians really have their hands full as the legislative session draws to a close. Instead of focusing on their state’s looming long-term budget crisis, the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Martin O’Malley spent yesterday working on a far more important issue: authorizing the use of public resources to seize and operate the Preakness Stakes.
The owner of the Preakness and its Pimlico race track, Magna Entertainment, is currently in federal bankruptcy. Last week, a Baltimore Sun editorial compared the oh-so-dire situation to the 1984 Baltimore Colts’ move to Indianapolis (in part precipitated by the city’s threat of eminent domain condemnation), when the city attempted and failed to seize the team through eminent domain a day after it had already left for Indiana.
The presumption seems to be that municipalities and states are somehow entitled to their sports teams and facilities, regardless of current ownership and market conditions, and that spending public money on such ventures is beneficial to the local economy. But one need only look at neighboring Washington, DC’s ongoing depressing experience with the billion dollar Nationals Park/Navy Yard debacle to get a handle on how ridiculous this line of thought is. Unfortunately, given the current “stimulus” culture, this probably won’t be the last time a government decides to initiate eminent domain or subsidize development for the purpose of “saving sports.”
Who is behind the Amnesty Push for Illegal Aliens...
Besides OBOMBA, Pelosi, & CONGRESS ?
By NWV News writer Jim Kouri
Posted 1:00 AM Eastern
March 25, 2009
© NewsWithViews.com
In the midst of a recent diatribe, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a crowd of illegal aliens and their advocates that federal or local law enforcement of existing immigration laws is "un-American."
Pelosi, an avowed liberal-left Democrat from San Francisco, condemned operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Then she called the illegal aliens in the audience she was addressing "very, very patriotic."
"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi said to a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.
Unbeknownst to Pelosi, her speech was being taperecorded and the audiotape was played by syndicated talk show host Mark Levin on Wednesday night and Fox News Channel on Thursday morning.
Speaker Pelosi is then heard saying, "It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."
Pelosi told the few reporters covering this story that she was invited to speak to the Latino congregation by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) as part of a national tour called United Families, which he says is "intended to put a human face on the immigration debate."
Congressman Gutierrez, who in the past called ICE agents and Border Patrol agents "Gestpo" is currently collecting signatures for a petition that demands President Barack Obama to "stop the immigration raids and deportations that are tearing our marriages, families and children apart."
He told reporters that he's expected to present those petitions when Hispanic members of Congress meet with the President next Wednesday.
Referring to work site enforcement actions by ICE agents, Pelosi said, "We have to have a change in policy and practice and again ... I can't say enough, the raids must end. The raids must end.
"You are special people. You're here on a Saturday night to take responsibility for our country's future. That makes you very, very patriotic," she's quoted as saying during her church speech.
"This is outrageous that one of the most powerful government officials would call the action of sworn law-enforcement officers' actions 'Un-American.' If anyone is Un-American here, it's Nancy Pelosi!" exclaimed an angry former-NYPD detective, Sydney Frances.
"This is par for the course with these left-wing politicians: cops are the bad guys and criminals are patriotic," he added.
"This is classic Stalinist behavior: change the meaning of the term Un-American. It now means any patriot who wants US immigration laws enforced is Un-American, while lawbreakers are called patriots. It's newspeak at its worst," said political strategist Mike Baker.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Homeland Security, former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano, ordered the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to cease their workplace investigations. Secretary Napolitano informed his immigration supervisory staff that she would order an investigation into complaints by illegal alien advocates that ICE agents were abusing illegal aliens they discovered working for US businesses.
According to ICE procedures, agents arrest illegal aliens discovered working in the US and conduct investigations of employers who hire these illegals. A background check is then conducted to discover the criminal background of some illegal aliens or to determine if illegal aliens re-entered the US after being deported, a felony crime punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
Bringing in and harboring certain aliens according to §1324(a)(1)(A)(iii), makes it a felony to encourage an alien to reside in the United States knowing that such residence is in violation of law. §1324(a)(1)(A)(iii).
Congress also made it a felony for anyone who "knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, ...harbors...such alien in any place, including any building...," according to the Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement.
Secretary Napolitano's directive has had a chilling effect on rank-and-file ICE agents, some of whom fear they will be investigated or prosecuted by the Obama Justice Department.
"Suddenly, almost overnight, federal immigration enforcement people have become the bad guys while lawbreakers are portrayed as abused individuals. While the Bush Administration's record on border security and immigration enforcement was poor, the Obama Administration is accelerating the destruction of America's sovereignty," warns Baker.
A perfect example of the turn-around by the Obama Administration is the recent harassment of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona's Maricopa County. Attorney General Jeff Holder recently told advocates and attorneys for illegal aliens that the Department of Justice would investigate Sheriff Arpaio's department.
Arpaio's deputy sheriffs were sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia for training by the Homeland Security Department so that they would be certified to enforce US immigration laws. As a result, Arpaio's deputies have arrested thousands of illegal aliens, most of whom have committed crimes other than those involving entering the United States illegally.
The Department of Justice didn't provide specifics of the allegations, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the probe was prompted by his immigration efforts, including his crime and immigration sweeps of some heavily Latino areas in metropolitan Phoenix. Arpaio denied allegations that his deputies racially profiled people during the sweeps, according to Rachel Alexander of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
The U.S. House's judiciary committee also plans to hold a hearing next month on the allegations against Arpaio.
"The Obama Administration and members of the US Congress are conspiring to stop and silence those in law enforcement who do not share their liberal viewpoint regarding illegal aliens. Don't be surprised to see American citizens as well being dragged into courtrooms because they oppose illegal aliens being given amnesty," warns Det. Frances.
"These liberal-left fanatics want to replace American citizens -- who won't buy their ideology -- with Third-World peoples who don't even understand what's happening to this country," he said
© 2009 NWV - All Rights Reserved
----------------
What industry in the U.S. utilizes the most illegal alien workers?
Farming / agriculture
Horse Racing
Arguments against Amnesty
from "The American Resistance"
http://www.theamericanresistance.com/issues/amnesty.html
InfoWars;
http://www.infowars.com/articles/immigration/immigration_bill_alive_and_well.htm
http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news134.htm
By NWV News writer Jim Kouri
Posted 1:00 AM Eastern
March 25, 2009
© NewsWithViews.com
In the midst of a recent diatribe, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a crowd of illegal aliens and their advocates that federal or local law enforcement of existing immigration laws is "un-American."
Pelosi, an avowed liberal-left Democrat from San Francisco, condemned operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Then she called the illegal aliens in the audience she was addressing "very, very patriotic."
"Who in this country would not want to change a policy of kicking in doors in the middle of the night and sending a parent away from their families?" Pelosi said to a mostly Hispanic gathering at St. Anthony's Church in San Francisco.
Unbeknownst to Pelosi, her speech was being taperecorded and the audiotape was played by syndicated talk show host Mark Levin on Wednesday night and Fox News Channel on Thursday morning.
Speaker Pelosi is then heard saying, "It must be stopped....What value system is that? I think it's un-American. I think it's un-American."
Pelosi told the few reporters covering this story that she was invited to speak to the Latino congregation by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) as part of a national tour called United Families, which he says is "intended to put a human face on the immigration debate."
Congressman Gutierrez, who in the past called ICE agents and Border Patrol agents "Gestpo" is currently collecting signatures for a petition that demands President Barack Obama to "stop the immigration raids and deportations that are tearing our marriages, families and children apart."
He told reporters that he's expected to present those petitions when Hispanic members of Congress meet with the President next Wednesday.
Referring to work site enforcement actions by ICE agents, Pelosi said, "We have to have a change in policy and practice and again ... I can't say enough, the raids must end. The raids must end.
"You are special people. You're here on a Saturday night to take responsibility for our country's future. That makes you very, very patriotic," she's quoted as saying during her church speech.
"This is outrageous that one of the most powerful government officials would call the action of sworn law-enforcement officers' actions 'Un-American.' If anyone is Un-American here, it's Nancy Pelosi!" exclaimed an angry former-NYPD detective, Sydney Frances.
"This is par for the course with these left-wing politicians: cops are the bad guys and criminals are patriotic," he added.
"This is classic Stalinist behavior: change the meaning of the term Un-American. It now means any patriot who wants US immigration laws enforced is Un-American, while lawbreakers are called patriots. It's newspeak at its worst," said political strategist Mike Baker.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Homeland Security, former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano, ordered the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to cease their workplace investigations. Secretary Napolitano informed his immigration supervisory staff that she would order an investigation into complaints by illegal alien advocates that ICE agents were abusing illegal aliens they discovered working for US businesses.
According to ICE procedures, agents arrest illegal aliens discovered working in the US and conduct investigations of employers who hire these illegals. A background check is then conducted to discover the criminal background of some illegal aliens or to determine if illegal aliens re-entered the US after being deported, a felony crime punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
Bringing in and harboring certain aliens according to §1324(a)(1)(A)(iii), makes it a felony to encourage an alien to reside in the United States knowing that such residence is in violation of law. §1324(a)(1)(A)(iii).
Congress also made it a felony for anyone who "knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, ...harbors...such alien in any place, including any building...," according to the Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement.
Secretary Napolitano's directive has had a chilling effect on rank-and-file ICE agents, some of whom fear they will be investigated or prosecuted by the Obama Justice Department.
"Suddenly, almost overnight, federal immigration enforcement people have become the bad guys while lawbreakers are portrayed as abused individuals. While the Bush Administration's record on border security and immigration enforcement was poor, the Obama Administration is accelerating the destruction of America's sovereignty," warns Baker.
A perfect example of the turn-around by the Obama Administration is the recent harassment of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona's Maricopa County. Attorney General Jeff Holder recently told advocates and attorneys for illegal aliens that the Department of Justice would investigate Sheriff Arpaio's department.
Arpaio's deputy sheriffs were sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia for training by the Homeland Security Department so that they would be certified to enforce US immigration laws. As a result, Arpaio's deputies have arrested thousands of illegal aliens, most of whom have committed crimes other than those involving entering the United States illegally.
The Department of Justice didn't provide specifics of the allegations, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the probe was prompted by his immigration efforts, including his crime and immigration sweeps of some heavily Latino areas in metropolitan Phoenix. Arpaio denied allegations that his deputies racially profiled people during the sweeps, according to Rachel Alexander of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
The U.S. House's judiciary committee also plans to hold a hearing next month on the allegations against Arpaio.
"The Obama Administration and members of the US Congress are conspiring to stop and silence those in law enforcement who do not share their liberal viewpoint regarding illegal aliens. Don't be surprised to see American citizens as well being dragged into courtrooms because they oppose illegal aliens being given amnesty," warns Det. Frances.
"These liberal-left fanatics want to replace American citizens -- who won't buy their ideology -- with Third-World peoples who don't even understand what's happening to this country," he said
© 2009 NWV - All Rights Reserved
----------------
What industry in the U.S. utilizes the most illegal alien workers?
Farming / agriculture
Horse Racing
Arguments against Amnesty
from "The American Resistance"
http://www.theamericanresistance.com/issues/amnesty.html
InfoWars;
http://www.infowars.com/articles/immigration/immigration_bill_alive_and_well.htm
http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news134.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
