Labor and Industries Rates for 2024 ReleasedThe Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has published its proposed 2024 industrial insurance rates for the Horse Industry Account. Rates are determined by data from the previous five years, July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2022, of exposure and claim experience. Rates will increase for Risk Classes 6625, 6626, and 6627. Grooms and assistant trainers are up $6.75 per month, exercise, and pony riders at the track, 10 cents per day per horse, and exercise and pony riders at the farms $1.09 per day.
Good safety procedures in the stable area and ensuring that no fraudulent claims are filed are the best ways to stabilize or reduce premiums in the future. The following are the proposed industrial insurance rates for 2024:
Emerald Downs 2024 Race Dates ApprovedAt the regularly scheduled, November 9, 2023, Washington Horse Racing Commission meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve the race date request for Emerald Downs 2024 race meet.
Emerald Downs requested a 55-day live racing season for 2024, with opening day on Saturday, May 4th and finishing the season on September 15th. More information on race dates, post times and promotions can be found at www.emeralddowns.com or by clicking here. A printable Emerald Downs 2024 live racing calendar can be viewed by clicking here. 2023 Owners and Breeders Bonus distributedThe Owners and Breeders bonuses for 2023 were mailed on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The bonuses are calculated by using the total handle by Washington State residents during the live race meet at Emerald Downs. The WHRC is still attempting to contact and/or waiting to receive the SWV forms required by the Office of Financial Management prior to them processing those checks. If you believe you have bonus money coming and do not receive your award by December 31st, please call to ensure that it was sent or for instructions on how to submit the form.
The total Owners Bonus is determined by 1% of all In-State handle during the live Emerald Downs race meet along with 2.5% of the Source Market fees generated from Advance Deposit Wagering. A total of $404,489.84 was generated for all owners of Washington Breds which finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. Washington Breds earned $2,159,223.82 during the 2023 race meet. This led to a 18.7331% bonus to all owners of Washington Breds that qualified for the awards. There are 134 different owners or ownership groups that will receive the bonus checks for the 192 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second, third, or fourth at Emerald Downs. The top three owners were in order: El Dorado Farm (Ron & Nina Hagen), John Parker, and Roy Brewer. The Breeders Bonus is determined by 1% of the handle on all exotic wagers on races conducted at Emerald Downs, (all wagers other than win, place, and show), during the live meet as required in RCW 67.16.175, as well as 2.5% of Source Market Fees from Advance Deposit Wagering. For 2023 a total of $197,905.08 was generated from the exotic wagers placed on Emerald Downs live races and from SMF thorough ADW. 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 percentage for the awards is as follows, 12.5810% for first place purses, 5.5769% for second place purses, and 6.6210% for third place purses. A total of 75 breeders will receive bonus checks for 167 different Washington Bred horses that finished first, second or third at Emerald Downs. The top three breeders were in order: El Dorado Farm (Ron & Nina Hagen), Bar C Racing Stables, Inc. (Pam and Ken Christopherson), and KD Thoroughbreds (Darlyne Krieg). Click here for a breakdown of the 2023 Owners Bonus payment factors. Click here for a breakdown of the 2023 Breeders Awards payment factors. Emerald Downs concludes live racing for 2023The 2023 Emerald Downs 52-day live race meet concluded on Sunday, September 17 with an eleven-race card. Washington racing saw additional changes in 2023 related to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority that was passed by the Federal legislative in 2021, with the implementation of the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program administered by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit on May 22. This program began enforcing industry-wide equine testing standards after several delays along with some confusion and issues, but with the help of Emerald Downs, LLC, the Washington HBPA, and WHRC staff, racing did not suffer any major negative impacts to its product on the track.
Overall handle was $60,475.522 for an average of $1,162,991 per day. While this was a decrease of 10.6% over 2022, the track's retention from handle increased 3.7% due to changes in host fees. Total takeout decreased from 19.56% in 2022 to 18.87% in 2023. A total of 709 horses started 2,847 times over 435 races for an average field size of 6.54. Total purses distributed was $7,064,322, an average of $135,852 per race day. Purses for the 2023 race meet were generated as follows: 12% from live racing, 60% from ADW and Simulcast Revenue, 3% from fees, 25% contribution from the Muckleshoot Tribe who own and operate the track. 2023 Emerald Downs HonorsSlew’s Tiz Whiz and Alex Cruz both shined bright at Emerald Downs in 2023, both earning multiple awards and titles as the track wrapped up its 28th season of live racing Sunday. Slew’s Tiz Whiz was voted 2023 Horse of the Meeting, becoming the 18th Washington-bred to win the award and joining Stryker Phd (2014-15) and Noosa Beach (2010-11) as the only repeat winners of the season’s top award. In addition, the 5-year-old Slew’s Tiznow gelding took honors as Top Washington-bred, Top Older Horse, led the meet in earnings, $83,000, and tied Clovisconnection, Appeal Factor, Aloha Breeze, and Blazingbellablu for most stakes wins with two apiece. Conditioned by Tom Wenzel, owned by Slew’s Crew Racing, and ridden by Jose Zunino, Slew’s Tiz Whiz won stakes short and long, winning the 6 ½ furlong Governor’s and 1 1/16-mile Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, while adding a second in the six-furlong Budweiser and a third to Five Star General in the Longacres Mile to his impressive resume.
Alex Cruz accomplished Emerald Downs history, becoming the first jockey to win four straight titles at the Auburn track—riding 69 winners in 52 days while finishing 14 clear of runner-up Luis Negron. In fact, the 29-year-old native of Puerto Rico became the first rider in state history with four consecutive titles at the same track, eclipsing Rocco Bowen (Emerald Downs 2016-18), Gary Boulanger (Longacres 1989-91), Gary Baze (Longacres 1973-75), and Robert Howg (Yakima Meadows (1975-77). Cruz was also first in earnings, $1,016,128, and the only jockey to win five races on a card (Aug. 6) and was voted the Lindy Award for sportsmanship and accomplishment by his fellow riders. In the trainers’ ranks, Justin Evans enjoyed a tremendous first season, capturing the title with 49 wins and finishing 18 clear of Blaine Wright and 19 ahead of defending titlist Jorge Rosales. Evans also finished first in earnings ($558,850), was the meet’s leading owner (21 wins), and became the first trainer to sweep titles at Turf Paradise and Emerald Downs in the same year.8 Clovisconnection turned in dazzling efforts in the Auburn Stakes (6F/1:07.59) and Irish Day Stakes (6 ½ F/1:14.73) and took honors as the meet’s Top 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding and Top Sprinter for trainer Blaine Wright and owner/breeder William Hedrick. In addition to Slew’s Tiz Whiz, Wenzel conditioned a pair of champions for owner George Todaro. Aloha Breeze rattled off three brilliant sprint victories including daylight scores in the Seattle Stakes and Kent Stakes and was voted Top 3-Year-Old Filly. Miner League closed out his juvenile season with two straight wins for Wenzel, Todaro, and jockey Carlos Montalvo, rolling from off the pace to prevail in the Gottstein Futurity on closing day. Blazingbellablu was a study in consistency, posting a 2-2-0 record in four starts, including wins in the Hastings Stakes and Washington Cup Filly & Mare Stakes, and is the Top Older Filly or Mare for trainer Charles Essex and Petra Lewin. Oak Crest Farm homebred Appeal Factor dazzled in two starts for trainer David Martinez—sweeping the Angie C Stakes and WTBOA Lassies Stakes—and was unanimously voted Top 2-Year-Old Filly. Dirt Road Red, the meet’s only five-time winner, was voted Top Claimer, and the $150,000 Longacres Mile won by Five Star General was Race of the Meeting. Harbor the Gold, for the 11th time in 13 years, was Leading Sire and is No. 1 all-time with 493 wins at Emerald Downs. Full list of honors for the 2023 Emerald Downs race meet: Horse of the Meeting: Slew’s Tiz Whiz Top Washington-bred: Slew’s Tiz Whiz Top Older Horse: Slew’s Tiz Whiz Top Older Filly or Mare: Blazingbellablu Top 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Clovisconnection Top 3-Year-Old Filly: Aloha Breeze Top 2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Miner League Top 2-Year-Old Filly: Appeal Factor Top Sprinter: Clovisconnection Top Claimer: Dirt Road Red Race of Meeting: Longacres Mile (Five Star General) Leading Jockey Wins: Alex Cruz, 69 Leading Jockey Stakes Wins: Carlos Montalvo, 4; Jose Zunino, 4 Leading Jocker Earnings: Alex Cruz, $1,016,128 Leading Trainer: Justin Evans, 49 Leading Trainer Stakes Wins: Tom Wenzel, 7 Leading Trainer Earnings: Justin Evans, $558,850; Blaine Wright $558,704 Leading Owner: Justin Evans, 21 Leading Owner Earnings: Justin Evans, $208,770 Leading Horse Wins: Dirt Road Red, 5 Leading Horse Stakes Wins: Aloha Breeze, 2; Appeal Factor, 2; Blazingbellablu, 2; Clovisconnection, 2; Slew’s Tiz Whiz, 2 Leading Horse Earnings: Slew’s Tiz Whiz, $83,000; Five Star General, $82,500 Top Riding Achievement: Alex Cruz first rider in Emerald Downs and Washington history to win four straight titles Top Training Achievement: Justin Evans dominant first season at Emerald Downs, capturing title by 18 wins Martin Durkan Award: Jill Soranno, Howie Gibson Lindy Aliment Award: Alex Cruz Leading Sire Wins: Harbor The Gold, 17 Jockeys’ Valet of the Year: Al Padilla Who is Horse racing?
The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association has created a video showing the diversity and economic impact it has on those participating in horse racing, from the breeders to the employees that care for the horses on a day-to-day basis. Click here to see the video or it can be viewed below.
2022 WHRC Approved thresholds for therapeutic medication and withdrawal guidelines
The WHRC and the Equine Medical Director have published a listing for 2022 of all approved therapeutic medications thresholds, and withdrawal guidelines. Additionally, information regarding compounded medication, nutraceuticals, and the use of CBD oils are provided by clicking on the links below:
Cannabidiol Bulletin Feb. 2019 - click here CBD Update - click here RMTC Nutraceuticals 101 A Trainer's Guide - click here WHRC Thresholds 2022 - click here WHRC Withdrawal Time Recommendations 2022 - click here WHRC Owners License Applications and Labor and Industries Premiums
All owners applying for a WHRC license are required to pay a subsidy to the Horsemen's Labor and Industries Account. The amount is based on the percentage of horses owned. The maximum amount to be paid is $150.00. The WHRC calculates the premium at a minimum of 10% ownership and then rounded up in increments of 5% after. Percentage of multiple horses are added together for calculations. For example, if an individual owns 11% of one horse and 12.5% of a second horse for a total of 23.5%, the percentage is rounded up to 25% and the L & I premium would be $37.50. Once an owner has paid $150.00, no additional premium is required. Below is a chart for premiums due:
1% to 10% ownership = $15.00 11% to 15% ownership = $22.50 16% to 20% ownership = $30.00 21% to 25% ownership = $37.50 26% to 30% ownership = $45.00 31% to 35% ownership = $52.50 36% to 40% ownership = $60.00 41% to 45% ownership = $67.50 46% to 50% ownership = $75.00 51% to 55% ownership = $82.50 56% to 60% ownership = $90.00 61% to 65% ownership = $97.50 66% to 70% ownership = $105.00 71% to 75% ownership = $112.50 76% to 80% ownership = $120.00 81% to 85% ownership = $127.50 86% to 90% ownership = $135.00 91% to 95% ownership = $142.50 96% to 100% ownership = $150.00 This premium is addition to the actual license fees of $96.00 plus $10.00 fingerprint fee, ($106.00), for all applicants over the age of 17 and under the age of 70. For those under 18 or over 69 the license fee is $96.00. If you are unsure of how to calculate the ownership percentages or have any questions please call the WHRC offices at 360-459-6462 in Olympia or 253-931-6372 at Emerald Downs. |
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. Now Accepting Credit & Debit Cards
The Washington Horse Racing Commission is now accepting Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit and debit cards for the payment of WHRC license fees, Labor & Industries Industrial Insurance premiums and other fines/fees collected. A service fee of 3% will be added to all credit or debit transactions.
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 [email protected], 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.
Follow the WHRC Board of Stewards on Twitter
You can now follow the WHRC Board of Stewards on twitter. Get the latest rider changes, scratches, etc. directly from the stewards. Limited explanation of inquires and objections will be posted with a link to the Emerald Downs website for daily stewards report with a more detailed explanation that are up within 72 hours of each race day. Click here to start following at @whrcstewards for all the information.
Fingerprint Requirements
The WHRC adopted changes to WAC 260-36-100 in 2019 which resulted in changes to the fingerprint requirements for applicants and licensees. Fingerprint based criminal history checks through the FBI are normally required every five years but may be required at any time. Each year every person between the ages of eighteen and sixty-nine must pay a $10 fingerprint processing fee in addition to the license fees. Any applicant or licensee over the age of sixty-nine or under the age of eighteen will not be required to pay the $10 fingerprint fee unless fingerprints are requested by the WHRC and they will be required to pay the entire cost of the submission at time of processing. Additionally, fingerprints may be required in the following circumstances:
2022 WHRC Annual ReportThe Washington Horse Racing Commission's 2022 Annual Report to the Governor is available to view by visiting the WHRC Forms and Reports page or clicking here.
ARCI discusses regulation against "doping" and medication violations
The Association of Racing Commissioners International, of which the WHRC is a current member, and the University of Florida Racing Laboratory has released a five minute video in which the history of medication and horse racing is discussed. The video discusses current standards and protections in place to detect and deter intentional administrations. The WHRC has adopted virtually all of the recommended threshold levels currently recommended by the ARCI. Click here or scroll down to view the video.
Senator Derek Stanford appointed to commission as Ex-Officio
On January 18, 2022, Senator Derek Stanford was appointed as the newest Ex-Officio for the WHRC. Senator Stanford replaces Steve Hobbs, who was earlier appointed as Secretary of State.
Senator Stanford serves the 1st Legislative District which encompasses Bothell and areas north. He previously served as a Representative where he was the Chair of the Commerce and Gaming Committee. Currently in his role as Senator he is the Vice Chair for the Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee as well as serving on other committees. The WHRC welcomes Senator Stanford to the industry and looks forward to working with him on all issues surrounding horse racing. WHRC Declines HISA fee assessmentAt the regularly scheduled meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission on November 9, 2023, the WHRC commissioners unanimously voted to decline to collect and submit fees to the newly created Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, (HISA). The Authority was created by the U.S. Congress in December of 2020 and was given the task of creating safety and medication standards for all pari-mutuel jurisdictions participating in inter-state simulcasting. Items that were considered by the commission included the lack of transparency and inability of the WHRC to ask for an audit of the Authority's budget, the use of public funds and the WHRC's statutory authority to both assess and collect fees for a non-governmental agency.
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