LTBA to Hold Special Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, March 28, 2024

 

Here’s the information for the Zoom meeting Meeting ID: 832 9713 8743 Passcode: 730893 Mar 28, 2024 01:30 PM Central Time If you’re using the Zoom app, click this link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83297138743?pwd=opxFzgWxvOZOBGaBbfDEFwPpsQeIFf.1 If you are calling in, dial 312-626-6799 Enter Meeting ID: 832 9713 8743 followed by # When you hear the system start talking again hit # again to bypass participant ID Enter passcode 730893 followed by # to join At this point it will drop you in the waiting room and we’ll pull the call into the meeting

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association louisianabred.com

Accredited Louisiana Breds to Race for Nearly $6 Million in Stakes Purses in 2024

(New Orleans, LA) – In addition to benefitting from one of the most lucrative overnight purse structures and breeding incentive programs in the country, Accredited Louisiana breds will have a nearly $6 million stakes schedule to run at in 2024, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association has announced. “We are proud to offer a dynamic stakes program that provides a year-round schedule for Accredited Louisiana breds,” said Roger Heitzmann III, secretary-treasurer of the LTBA. “With a total of 67 stakes for $5.71 million, there are opportunities for horses of all ages, going long and short, and on turf and dirt. There are also several races with starter or non-winners of a stake conditions, so there is truly a chance for all types of runners to compete.” Of the 67 stakes races, 33 will offer a purse of $100,000 or more. While many states offer a special day of stakes races dedicated to state breds, Louisiana is the only one to present four state-bred stakes showcases with one at each of the state’s racetracks. Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel has Louisiana Premier Night, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino offers Louisiana Legeands Night, Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots presents Louisiana Champions Day, and Louisiana Downs provides Louisiana Cup Day. “Our owners and trainers have found this to be a tremendous benefit, and we are thankful to have four tracks that do great job of supporting Louisiana breds,” added Heitzmann. “There is always a big stakes day coming up on the horizon, so it provides extra flexibility to run horses on a schedule that meets their individual needs.” The Louisiana bred stakes program has proven to be a launching pad for horses like Free Like a Girl, a millionaire who has won an incredible 14 stakes in Louisiana while also competing successfully in graded stakes company around the country. Bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne, the daughter of Louisiana stallion El Deal is being aimed for a possible start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April. While the stakes and overnight purses make Accredited Louisiana breds more valuable to owners, there are also benefits for breeders and stallion owners. Breeders can earn up to 25% in breeders’ awards for horses finishing in the top three in races in Louisiana, and worldwide breeders’ awards are paid on races outside of the state. Stallion awards are paid on top three finishes in allowance, handicap, and stakes within the state, in addition to stakes races outside of Louisiana. For more information about the 2024 Accredited Louisiana-bred stakes schedule, go to www.louisianabred.com or visit the individual racetrack’s websites for specific date information and conditions.   Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association louisianabred.com

Research Finds Inbreeding a Factor in Pregnancy Loss

Research explores genomic inbreeding and late-term pregnancy loss.

 

New research from the Royal Veterinary College, in collaboration with Cornell University, has found inbreeding to be a contributing factor in mid- and late-term pregnancy loss in Thoroughbreds.

This is the first study that explores the effect of genomic inbreeding levels on late-term pregnancy loss in the horse and will help inform mating choices to minimize the risk of miscarriages in Thoroughbreds.

Inbreeding is a common practice in horse breeding and livestock industries because individuals with desirable traits are highly prized. However, excessive inbreeding is known to increase the probability of uncovering homozygous recessive genotypes that previously have been associated with an increased risk of retained placenta and lower semen quality in horses.

 

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Florida Owners and Breeders Applaud State Lawmakers

The Florida legislature passed March 8 a sweeping omnibus tax package that includes the extension of Florida’s all-time strongest Thoroughbred breeding and racing incentives and maintains state funding of Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulatory assessments.

In 2023, the Florida legislature enacted a two-year breeding and racing stimulus package totaling more than $65 million. This year’s bill, HB 7073, removes a two-year statutory sunset and, if signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, extends critical industry funding.

 

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Free Like a Girl possible for Apple Blossom Handicap

Mary Rampellini

Mar 10, 2024

 

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The millionaire Free Like a Girl could be making a return trip to Oaklawn Park next month for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

Trainer Chasey Deville-Pomier said the Louisiana-bred is under consideration for the race following her allowance win over the local track Friday. She liked how Free Like a Girl had emerged from the race as of Saturday morning and said she was to ship to Evangeline Downs on Sunday.

“She looked beautiful – ate up everything, playing in the stall – her normal self,” Deville-Pomier said. “I think we’re aiming for the Shantel Lanerie at Fair Grounds and possibly the Apple Blossom back at Oaklawn. It was kind of the talk after yesterday. We wanted to see how she handled the track first – and obviously, as long as she’s doing good and everything’s good with her.”

 

 

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OBITUARY: Robert Denton “Bob” Schultz

Robert Denton Schultz

SEPTEMBER 25, 1933 – FEBRUARY 27, 2024

IN THE CARE OF

Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home & Park

Beloved father, grandfather and legendary racehorse trainer, Robert “Bob” Denton Schultz, 90 of Doyline, LA, passed away peacefully in his home on February 27, 2024.

He was born in Houston, Texas on September 25, 1933, to Walter C. Schultz and Esther Carl Alexander Schultz. He attended Klein High School in Houston, TX and was a member of the very first football team of Klein High School in 1947-1948. He later enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 serving in France and South Africa as a Radar Operator until Honorably Discharged in 1954. On September 5, 1953, he married the love of his life, Alamae Lee Wright Schultz. They were married for 68 years until her passing in July of 2021. They had 5 children: Vicky, Mike, Jimmy, Terry, and Sheri’.

During these years, he was a printer by trade for Gulf Printing to support his family. He always had a love for horses all his life, including rodeoing, calf roping and showing reining and cutting horses, but his ultimate love was when he moved to horseracing. He started out with quarter horse racing and built two horse stalls near his house in 1956 and took a couple of horses at a time to training after working regular hours as a printer. He would haul the horses to race meets all over Texas for several years. In 1967, he gave up his printing job and moved his family to a town near Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. Together, he and his wife began running a full time horse racing operation later to be named Six S Racing Stables. He raced quarter horses in Louisiana till 1974, when he merged his horse operation into thoroughbred racing. That year, he ran both quarter horses and thoroughbreds with huge success in both racing industries. He ultimately pursued thoroughbred racing only with substantial success as one of the top trainers in this area. He was one of the first trainers to bring horses to Louisiana Downs when it opened its doors in 1974 and had continued racing horses until his last days on earth. He was a man of big stature standing 6’4” or in terms of horse measurements, 19 hands. He was genuinely referred to by many in the racing world as “The Duke” due to his similarity in size and mannerisms of John Wayne. His competitive love of horseracing and all sports was apparent throughout his whole life. While discussing the horse racing business, he was quoted as saying “you had better get used to the downs in this game because there’s usually more of them than ups. The only real success in this game comes from not letting the downs keep you down.” Until his last breath on this earth, he abided by this philosophy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Alamae Lee Wright Schultz, daughter Vicky Lynn Schultz, son James Steven Schultz and great-granddaughter, Aubree June.

He is survived by his son, Mike Schultz and wife Diane; son, Terry Schultz; daughter, Sheri’ Schultz Brown and husband Jim Brown; and his sister, Annette Hand and husband, Claude; grandchildren, Amber Lynn Schultz and husband Steve, Jonathon Schultz, Brandon Schultz, Collin Schultz, Whitney Alexis White, and Preslee Marie Brown; great grandchildren, Kaleb, Marcus, Shyloh, Brianna, and Chloe.

The family would like to thank his long time dear friend, Dr. Eddie Moore, for all his love and friendship given to Bob over many years, as well as Cassie Covey and Gentiva Hospice Care for their gracious and extraordinary care during the past year.

Funeral arrangements will be held at Hillcrest Funeral Home in Haughton, LA. Visitation is Monday, March 4, 2024, from 5-7 PM and services on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Following service, graveside will be held at West Lake Baptist Church Cemetery in Doyline, LA. Services will be officiated by Racetrack Chaplain Jimmy Sistrunk and Dr. Rick Wolfe.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/haughton-la/robert-schultz-11687602

A G’s Charlotte Toys with Red Camela Rivals

 

A G’s Charlotte with Marcelino aboard wins the 48th running of the Red Camelia Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Tom Galvin’s homebred A G’s Charlotte toyed with her six statebred rivals before taking over in the homestretch to win the $100,000 Red Camela at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday. Sensing her dominance over the field, the 6-5 favorite shifted from tracking the leader to a fierce stalk, making her run at the eighth pole and drawing away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Patricia West, the daughter of Mo Tom received the services of Marcelino Pedroza Jr. With the day’s races taken off the turf, A G’s Charlotte went 1 mile 70 yards in 1:44.78 over a main track labeled “muddy.”

“I wasn’t disappointed that the race was taken off the turf,” West said. “I think she is better on the dirt. It seems like she just keeps getting better with age, so we’ll keep going with her.”

Speedy Dudette gained control of the lead out of the gate set :24.28 and :47:84 opening quarters. A G’s Charlotte dropped to the rail in tracking position as Vale Male stalked the leader. Looking to assert herself, A G’s Charlotte began moving up the rail to split those two forward foes and begin breathing down Speedy Dudette’s throatlatch. Keeping her measured up through the far turn, A G’s Charlotte set down a run and bid past Speedy Dudette at the eighth pole. The front runner was able to hold on for second as Spirited Beauty came charging up the rail late for third.

“Thank you to Patricia West for this mount,” Pedroza said. “It was a perfect trip. I was right where I wanted to be, behind the speed. She took me to the front earlier than I wanted to. I know how she is, she likes a little competition in the end, but it all worked out.”

Three of A G’s Charlotte’s four stakes wins have come at Fair Grounds and she boasts the proud title of having earned West her first career stakes victory in the 2022 Big World Stakes. With a career record of 25-9-8-3, the 5-year-old mare has $458,410 in the bank.

A G’s Charlotte paid $4.60, $3.00, and $2.20.

“Hammer Time” in the Eddie Johnston as Jack Hammer Dominates

Jack Hammer with jockey Reylu Gutierrez aboard pulls away from the field to win the 44th running of the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Allied Racing Stable’s Jack Hammer dominated the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial, beating eight older statebred males by 8 1/2 lengths on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Never being menaced by the second-place finisher and 4-5 favorite Behemah Star, the 4-year-old gelding now has a freshman, sophomore, and older stake win on his resume.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the son of Jimmy Creed out of Lipstick Junky received the services of his regular pilot Reylu Gutierrez. With the day’s races taken off the turf, Jack Hammer went 1 mile 70 yards in 1:41.67 over a main track labeled “muddy.”

“That’s always the question: can they develop to the next level against older company?” Gutierrez said. “Bret (Calhoun) and his staff have done a tremendous job. Chester (Thomas, owner) and Bret gave him some time off, and he grew up. Credit to Brett, Janine, Mike and the crew. Jack Hammer has taken a step forward. Bret told me not to mess it up and I guess I didn’t mess it up.”

Calicoco was hustled hard to beat Jack Hammer to the lead out of the gates. Content to track in second, Jack Hammer left Calicoco alone as the front runner traveled through opening fractions of :23.76 and :47.41. After settling in sixth, Behemah Star began to run in the far turn but by then Jack Hammer had blitzed to the front and opened up an insurmountable lead. Wise Verdict ran steadily throughout to maintain third. Jack Hammer’s stablemate Who Took the Money, also owned by Allied Racing Stable, ran late for fourth.

“We were hoping it would be on the turf,” Chester Thomas of Allied Racing said. “We wanted to see how (Jack Hammer) would do on the turf; he’s bred for it. He’s been a real pleasure, very professional, a really cool horse. I want to give Bret and his team a lot of credit. They’ve done a beautiful job. Rey knows the horse well. It was ‘hammer time’ today.”

With an all-or-nothing lifetime record of 8-6-0-0, Jack Hammer added $60,000 winning the Eddie Johnston to bring his bankroll to $291,255. He now has three wins from four tries at the 2023 – 2024 meet.

“He had a little injury that made us give him some time off and he came back really, really well,” Calhoun said. “He’s one of those who went forward and he looks like he might be a better older horse. This horse does have a lot of breeding for the grass and we hope to have options where we can hit both spots.”

Jack Hammer cashed at $7.20, $3.40, and $2.60.

March Special Events at Fair Grounds

Wiener Dog Racing: On Saturday, March 2, Wiener Dog Racing returns to the Fair Grounds. Fifty dogs will race in four preliminary heats to qualify for the final heat to compete for top wiener. This event is presented by Double M Feed, Garden & Pet Supply. First post is 12:45 p.m. CT

Louisiana Derby Golf Tournament: On Monday, March 11 join members of the Fair Grounds racetrack community on the links for the Louisiana Derby Golf Tournament. Proceeds will benefit the Fair Grounds’ backstretch community. Door prizes will be available in addition to a raffle. Vendor partnerships are also available. Vendors, players, and partners should contact Stacy Repath via email or phone at (504) 312-8721 for more information.

 

Starlight Racing: On March 15, Starlight Racing is back at Fair Grounds with a 5pm first post. The Pontchartrain Wrecks will perform in the Tent from 6-10PM & The Phunky Monkeys will perform in the Clubhouse from 7-11PM. As always, General Admission is $10 and Clubhouse & Starlight Tent Admission is $25. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com

 

Louisiana Derby: The 111^th $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) will be run on March 23.^.Louisiana Derby Day will feature eight stakes worth $2.65 million including the Fair Grounds Oaks presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2), the New Orleans Classic Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G2), and the Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2). First post is noon.

Breast Cancer Second Line Benefiting the Shantel Lanerie Foundation: March 24^th will mark the 2^ndannual Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial Second Line. The second line will take place after the last race. Participants can register online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/racing-information/breast-cancer-survivor-memorial-second-line/  Adult $40; Kids $20

March Calendar of Events from the LTBA

March Calendar of Events from the LTBA

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association would like to share the following list of dates of interest to Louisiana horsemen and women. Brought to you by Whispering Oaks, and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Click images link to more information

March 2 ·       Black Gold Stakes, Fair Grounds ·       Edward J. Johnston Memorial S, Fair Grounds ·       Red Camellia S, Fair Grounds March 7 ·       2023 Louisiana Bred Champions results announced March 9 ·       Allen Lacombe Memorial S, Fair Grounds March 10 ·       Daylight Savings Time starts – change clocks ahead one hour March 12-14 ·       Ocala Breeders’ Sale, March Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale March 17 ·       St. Patricks Day March 19 ·       March Equinox, Spring Begins March 23 ·       Louisiana Derby Day, New Orleans Fair Grounds: Tom Benson Memorial S., Costa Rising S., Crescent City Derby, Crescent City Oaks, G2 Muniz Memorial H., G2 New Orleans H., G2 Fair Grounds Oaks, G2 Louisiana Derby March 24 ·       Palm Sunday ·       Star Guitar S., Fair Grounds ·       Shantel Lanerie Memorial S., Fair Grounds ·       Page Cortez S., Fair Grounds March 29 ·       Good Friday March 31 ·       Easter Sunday

Would you like to sponsor a newsletter? Reach more than 2,500 readers. Please contact Linda 504-460-5518, linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676, roger@louisianabred.com for cost and availability. Do you have a date pertaining to Louisiana-breds that you would like included in an upcoming calendar? Please contact Linda 04-460-5518, linda@louisianabred.com or Roger 504-947-4676, roger@louisianabred.com for consideration. Any questions or need more info call Roger A. Heitzmann III, Secretary/Treasurer Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association 504-947-4676