Labor and Industries Rates for 2019
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has published its 2019 industrial insurance rates for the Horse Industry Account. Rates are determined by data from the previous five years, July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018 of exposure and claim experience. Rates, for the second straight year, have slightly decreased for Risk Class 6625, (grooms and assistant trainers), 6626, (Exercise and pony riders at the track), and 6627, (Exercise and pony riders on a farm).
Good safety procedures in the stable area and ensuring that no fraudulent claims are filed are the best ways to stabilize and continue to reduce premiums in the future. The following are the industrial insurance rates for 2019:
2018 Owners bonuses and Breeders awards Finalized
The Owners bonuses and Breeders awards have been calculated using the total handle by Washington State residents during the live race meet at Emerald Downs in 2018 and the checks were mailed on November 13th.
The total Owners Bonus is determined by all handle in the State of Washington during the live Emerald Downs race meet which totaled $38,871,956.00, a decrease of 11.67% from 2017. 1% of the handle is withheld for the bonus monies plus 2.5% of the Source Market fees generated from Advance Deposit Wagering, which in 2018 was $120,692.69. A total of $509,412.25 was generated for all owners of Washington Breds which finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. The total awards decreased from $553,454.32 in 2017. Washington Breds earned $2,724,095.00 during the 2018 race meet. This figure is down from 2017 in which Washington Breds earned $3,209,390.90. This leads to a 18.7002% bonus to all owners of Washington Breds that qualified for the awards. There are 172 different owners or ownership groups that will receive the bonus checks for the 266 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. The top five owners were in order: John & Janene Maryanski, David Israel, Ron Crockett, Inc., H.R. Mullens, and R.E.V. Racing, LLC. The Breeders Bonus is determined by 1% of the handle from exotic wagers (all wagers other than win, place, and show) on live races offered at Emerald Downs as required in RCW 67.16.175. Additionally, 2.5% of Source Market Fees (SMF) from Advance Deposit Wagering is also designated for the Breeders awards. For 2018 this generated $54,936.97 from the exotic wagers and $120,692.69 from SMF for a total award of $175,629.66. All breeders of Washington Bred horses which finish first, second, or third receive bonus awards. Of the money generated, 75% is given to the horses for purses earned when finishing first, 15% for purses earned for second, and 10% for purses earned for third place. The percentages for the awards is as follows, 8.6774% for first place purses, 4.9818% for second place purses, and 3.7897% for third place purses. A total of 110 breeders will receive bonus checks for 244 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second or third at Emerald Downs. The top five breeders were: Bar C Racing Stable, Inc., El Dorado Farm (Ron & Nina Hagen), Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Pabst (Blue Ribbon Farm), John Roche and Jeffrey & Doris Harwood. Click here for a breakdown of the payment factors. Emerald Downs date request approved for 2019
At the November 9, 2018 regularly scheduled meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission the commissioners approved Emerald Racing LLC's request for dates for the 2019 racing season. Emerald Downs will once again offer sixty-seven days of live racing starting with opening day on Saturday, April 20th and going through closing day on Sunday, September 22nd.
Opening day, April 20, is the lone racing day Easter weekend, followed by Saturday/Sunday racing April 27-28 and May 4-5. Friday racing begins May 10 and continues the remaining 20 weeks of the season. Post times also remain the same as last season: 2:00 pm Sundays, 6:30 pm Fridays, and either 2:00 pm or 5:00 pm Saturdays. The first eight Saturdays, April 20 thru June 8, feature a 2 o’clock post and the final 15 Saturdays, June 15 thru September 21, feature a 5 o’clock post. Live racing will be offered on Memorial Day, May 27th with a 2:00 pm post. The annual Fireworks Spectacular on Wednesday, July 3, also begins with live racing at 5:00 pm. The 84th Longacres Mile (G3) will be run Sunday, August 11, with the complete 2019 stakes schedule released in January. |
Washington State’s Down the Stretch Ranch Garners National Attention
Down The Stretch Ranch co-founded in 2015 by Hall of Fame Trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, his wife Janet, and Boone McCanna in Creston, Washington has gotten national attention recently. The foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit thoroughbred race horse retirement facility which connects injured or retired racehorses with United States Veterans and through the use of equine therapy helps bring comfort and companionship to veterans.
Down The Stretch ranch was recently placed in national spotlight by trainer Doug O’Neill whose support of the foundation was on display during Breeders Cup week when his horses wore coolers featuring Down The Stretch Ranch. The Paulick Report also recently featured an article written by Hank Wesch of Del Mar about Down The Stretch Ranch and the work it is doing with retired thoroughbred racehorses and veterans that can be viewed by clicking here. For more information on Down The Stretch Ranch and what can be done to support their cause please visit their website http://www.downthestretch.org/ or their Facebook page by clicking here. Rulemaking Notification List
Any person who wishes to receive notification about WHRC rulemaking activities can be added to the stakeholder list. Requests to be added to the stakeholder list may be made by email at whrc@whrc.state.wa.us, by telephone at 360-459-6462, by fax at 360-459-6461, or by mail at 6326 Martin Way, Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516-5578.
WHRC 2017-2019 Biennial Budget Request
The WHRC has submitted its request for the 2017-2019 biennial budget to the Washington State Legislature. To review the entire budget click here.
Emerald Downs concludes 2018 live meet
Sippin Fire earned multiple year-end honors including 2018 Horse of the Meeting, Top 3-Year-Old Horse, and Top Washington Bred
The 2018 Emerald Downs race meet came to a conclusion on September 23rd. The 2018 handle during the live race meet from April 22nd through September 23rd was down $5,135,753.00, a decrease of 11.67% from 2017. The decrease can be attributed to the loss of five days of live racing which was reduced to 67 days, encompassing 155 total wagering days, as compared to last year's 72 live days and 170 total wagering days.
Another comparison to review is the entire race year, September 25, 2017 through September 23, 2018 where the total handle for Washington State residents decreased by $4,936,754.60 from the previous race year. The shift of the wagering continues to move towards the Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) format. In reviewing the handle derived from ADW's it shows an increase of $6,276,418.37 for the comparable time frame, which resulted in a total increase in pari-mutuel handle in the state. It is important to understand that the percentage of the wagering dollars that is returned to the industry through Advance Deposit Wagering is significantly less than that of wagers placed at an Off Track Betting site or at Emerald Downs itself. This results in less revenue returned to the industry for purses to the horsemen and women and operational expenses for the racing association and racing commission. Horse of the meeting, top 3-year-old horse, and top Washington Bred honors went to Sippin Fire, who won four stakes during the meet and earned $115,425. Sippin Fire is owned by stable How We Roll #4 and he is trained by Steve Bullock. Leading trainer honors went to Jeff Metz, who earned his fourth training title at Emerald Downs, winning 43 races. The leading owner in 2018 was a tie between John Parker and Saratoga West, with 17 wins apiece. Leading rider honors went to Rocco Bowen who finished the season with 109 winners becoming the first jockey to win three straight titles at Emerald Downs. Other year-end honors went to jockey Lorenzo Lopez, winner of the Lindy Award presented for his accomplishments and sportsmanship during the year, while trainer Vince Gibson received the Martin Durkan award for his leadership, cooperation, sportsmanship and excellence on and off the track. |