grooms

A few weeks ago, I had a discussion with some racing folks on the site formerly known as Twitter regarding recognition of grooms when horses win. This came about from asking the question, "If they can acknowledge the groom of the Best Turned Out horse for certain races, why can they not do the same for horses that win the race?" Insight from those with far more knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the industry than I have made me realize why this would not be feasible in most circumstances...

Running a breeding shed efficiently and effectively takes a certain level of teamwork. Really, it takes a lot of the same characteristics found in any strong relationship. So it's no surprise, then, that the husband-and-wife duo of Roberto and Leticia Vera manages the shed at Pleasant Acres Stallions with such ease, proving that both professionally and personally, the best teams are built on mutual trust, understanding and sometimes, a whole lot of patience. For the past two years, Roberto and Leticia have made up the two-person team behind a roster...

The Backside Learning Center (BLC)--an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs--will hold its annual fundraiser, "Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races Celebrating the BLC's 20th Anniversary", at noon ET on Friday, Nov. 22 at the track's First Turn Club, the organization said via a Thursday release. All money raised through this annual event goes directly toward programming, resources and costs associated with the work of the BLC. Over its 20-year history, the BLC...

The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order requiring trainer Steve Asmussen to pay $243,260 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages after its investigation found the employer's pay practices denied 163 grooms and hotwalkers at Churchill Downs and at Keeneland racetrack of overtime wages, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Labor Tuesday. The recovery is the latest action brought by the department since 2021 against KDE Equine LLC, operating as Asmussen Racing Stables with about 200 horses in five states. This...

Edited Press Release Kentucky Educational Television (KET), a state network of PBS member stations serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky, will air 'The Legacy of Black Horsemen' an hour-long documentary that details the story of Black jockeys, trainers, grooms and exercisers in the 1800s who played an important role in the Thoroughbred industry. The program documents how Black horsemen were subjected to discrimination and cruelty throughout much of their lives. During slavery, many won the faith of their white owners and were trusted with major financial and horse training decisions. In...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will sponsor the Kitten's Joy S. on closing day of the Colonial Downs meet. A presentation of a TAA blanket and swag bag will be made to the winning connections following the running of the race. "We're thrilled to again partner with the TAA in sponsorship of the Kitten's Joy Stakes," said Colonial Downs Vice-President of Racing Operations, Jill Byrne. "We appreciate and value the importance of what the TAA provides to the industry and are happy to recognize their great efforts on our biggest day...

I write today after reading the thoughtful letter from Jason Wilson regarding diversity in the Keeneland Sales ring. I'm reminded of a question I first asked sometime during the early 1980's: Why aren't grooms included in the Hall of Fame? This came to mind when I noticed that a yearling my employer (EMO Stables) had pinhooked at the time--Secretary General (by Foolish Pleasure out of Sippican, by Stage Door Johnny)--was running in the first-ever Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 1984. That race was won by Chief's Crown, trained by Roger Laurin...

Ellis Park plans to honor Marvin Prado and other backstretch workers involved in rescuing six racehorses and one stable pony during a fire in the track's receiving barn last Sunday. They hope to do so during this weekend's races, contingent on the availability of Prado, whose daughter was born two months premature the day after the fire and is still hospitalized. The barn was engulfed in flames in a matter of 20 minutes and those on the scene say the man of the moment was Prado, with assistance from fellow...

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) named a race for the New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NY Chaplaincy) Friday, June 4, allowing the organization to honor the groom and hotwalker who cared for the winning horse in that race. Trainer Bill's Mott's Aunt Kat (Uncle Mo) won, with Gustavo Solorio and Agripina Lara each receiving a trophy and a gift provided by the NY Chaplaincy as part of the winner's circle ceremony. [Elite_video_player id="2" html5videos_hd="https://player.vimeo.com/external/563681100.sd.mp4?s=7aa9e04522f055a8dd8fb5b00d2a9b2278e3bd45&profile_id=165" html5videos_videoThumbnails_jpg="" html5videos_title="Moment in the Sun for Grooms and Hotwalkers in New York" prerolls="https://player.vimeo.com/external/508839980.sd.mp4?s=9bd052c283c79e01810c3fa759659e3f10f14b60&profile_id=165"] "These are...

GAIN Equine Nutrition will sponsor a new race series, The Advantage Series, for the Irish Flat Season, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. Launched with Ado McGuinness Racing, the eight part series of races will be run for points over a variety of conditions to cater to different trainers and horses throughout the season. For each race, there will be a 40% prizemoney boost. A grand prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN Equine Nutrition products will be awarded to the trainer who tops the GAIN The Advantage Series at the...