AHC STUDY FINDS HORSES ARE $25.3 BILLION INDUSTRY

The United States horse industry is a $25.3 billion industry based on economic activity associated with 6.9 million horses and 7.1 million employees and other participants, according to a comprehensive study commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation. Preliminary results of the year-long analysis, conducted by the Barents Group of Washington, DC, were announced by James J. Jockey Jr., president of the AHC, and Michael Vlaisavljevich, director if fiscal policy for Barents, at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's 1996 Symposium on Racing in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, Dec. 11.

'The study validates what we in the horse industry have long known,' Hickey said. 'The American horse industry is a huge and economically productive business that deserves the attention and appreciation of government, media and the public at large. It is the expectation of the American Horse Council that this study will be the primary educational and promotional tool that cultivates a new understanding of horses and their contribution to the American economy.'

Among the highlights of the study are the following findings: the horse industry produces goods and services valued at $25.3 billion, making it roughly the same size as the apparel manufacturing industry and motion picture industry in terms of the value of goods and services produced; the industry has a $112.1 billion impact on the U. S. economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account; 7.1 million Americans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees and volunteers; the industry directly provides 338,500 full- time equivalent jobs; the horse population in the U.S. is 6.9 million and more than 70 percent of those horses are involved in showing or recreation; the median income of horse-owning families is $60,000; and the industry pays approximately $1.9 billion in taxes to all levels of government.

The study was commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation,, with major funding support from The Jockey Club, American Quarter Horse Association, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Keeneland Association, Breeders' Cup Ltd. and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.

STEVENS ELECTED JOCKEYS GUILD PRESIDENT

Gary Stevens was elected president of the Jockeys Guild on Monday at the organization's annual meeting in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old Stevens, a native of Caldwell, Idaho, is a two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and a winner of three Breeders' Cup races. He is the youngest jockey ever to earn more than $100 million in purses. Stevens will succeed Jerry Bailey who was elected president emeritus.

NYRA NAMES RACE AFTER CIGAR

The New York Racing Association has renamed the NYRA Mile in honor of the champion Cigar. The 1997 race will be known as the Cigar Mile and will carry a purse of $250,000 when it is run on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 'We thought it was appropriate to name the race after a great champion,' said Racing Secretary Mike Lakow. 'It was the NYRA Mile that helped establish Cigar as a horse to reckon with and it has always been a very competitive, quality race.'

NYRA's 1997 stakes schedule will offer a total of 141 stakes races worth $22,500,000.

SOLIS WIN WOOLF AWARD

Jockey Alex Solis, who guided Dare and Go to victory in the Pacific Classic, thus ending Cigar's winning streak, has been selected as the recipient of the 1996 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award by members of the Jockeys Guild. Established in 1950 by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., the award is presented annually to the jockey who best demonstrates high professional and personal standards.

Solis, 32, is a native of Panama. In his 15-year career, Solis has won 2,599 races from 19,120 starts and earned $83,599,038 in purses.

Solis will receive the Woolf Award at a special ceremony at Santa Anita in February, 1997.

LONE STAR PARK HOSTS TOY DRIVE THIS WEEKEND

Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas, will host a Christmas Toy Drive Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15 at the track's Post Time Pavilion simulcast facility. Fans who donate a new, unwrapped toy will receive free admission. Proceeds from the toy drive will benefit Santa Cop, a volunteer organization sponsored by the Grand Prairie Police Department. Santa Claus will make a special appearance at the facility on Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to help collect the toys.

The Meadowlands Racetrack in E. Rutherford, NJ, will host its sixth annual Marine Corps Reserves Toys For Tots Drive on Friday, Dec. 13. Fans who donate a new, unwrapped toy or make a cash donation of $2 or more will receive free admission to the track and a program.

CHRB VIDEO EDUCATES PUBLIC ABOUT HORSE RACING

The California Horse Racing Board has released a new video designed to educate the public about horse racing. Titled 'Protecting Racing's Integrity,' the video views the sport from the regulatory standpoint, taking the viewer through an entire day at the racetrack, beginning with early morning workouts and culminating with an off- track scene in the official laboratory analyzing blood and urine samples taken from racehorses. Other scenes include veterinary inspections of horses, investigators inspecting barns, pre-race activities in the jockeys' room, horse identifiers checking lip tattoos, saddling procedures, stewards watching and reviewing races and the taking of samples for post-race testing.

The 15-minute video was developed by the board and television producer-Thoroughbred owner, Alan Landsburg. The video was distributed to all California horse racing organizations and industry groups.

HOLLYWOOD PARK SAYS 'LET IT SNOW' IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The song claimed it 'never rains in California' but next Saturday it will snow. Children of all ages can enjoy a day of fun in the snow in Southern California when Hollywood Park hosts its annual Snow Day on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. The Inglewood, Calif., racetrack will truck in more than 100 tons of snow in its North Park and construct a giant snow mountain for children to sled down. Santa Claus and Hollywood's mascot Captain Hoof will be on hand to pose for photos and will distribute free candy and coloring books. Admission to the Snow Day is free for all children and all adults accompanied by a child.

ROUGH RIDERS DEMONSTRATE RIDING SKILLS AT CALDER

The Kiwanis Horses and Handicapped 'Rough Riders' will ride down the Calder Race Course stretch for the fourth annual demonstration of their riding skills on Sunday, Dec. 15 between the first and second race. The child riders, each of whom have been sponsored by Calder- based trainers and owners, will wear the jockey silks of each sponsor.

The Kiwanis Horses and Handicapped, Inc. was founded to recognize the value of horseback riding for physically and mentally handicapped individuals. Approximately 50 riders are involved in the program. Because resources are limited, there are more than 80 children on a waiting list to join. Fans at Calder can make a donation to the Rough Riders program.

AAEP AND SALES COMPANIES TEAM UP TO STUDY YEARLINGS

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will coordinate a three-year, $144,000 study of radiographic abnormalities in sale yearlings. The study, announced at the AAEP annual convention in Denver of Dec. 10, will assess injuries such as bone chips and determine how they affect training and racing performance. Funding for the project has been received from AAEP, Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Sales.

RACING ON THE AIR

RACING TO HISTORY

Dec. 13, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux had his first career stakes win, aboard Godbey, in the Maryland City Handicap at Laurel.

Dec. 15, 1973: Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year when he rode Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel.

Dec. 17, 1936: Crooner Bing Crosby announced plans to construct a new racetrack, to be called the Del Mar Turf Club.

Dec. 17, 1993: Fire destroyed the 122-year-old grandstand of Fair Grounds, the nation's third-oldest racetrack.

Dec. 18, 1983: Hollywood Park held the first $1 million race for two- year-old Thoroughbreds, the Hollywood Futurity, which was won by Fali Time, ridden by Sandy Hawley.

Dec. 18, 1992: Tampa Bay began using Equibase Company past- performance information in its official track program, which enabled Equibase Company to cap its first year of operation with 25 subscribers using its past-performance data for live race meets.

Dec. 20, 1987: D. Wayne Lukas-trained Tejano became the first juvenile millionaire when he won the Hollywood Futurity with Laffit Pincay Jr. aboard.

Dec. 22, 1991: Jockey Kent Desormeaux, at age 21, won his 2,000th race aboard Saron Lake, trained by Gary Jones, at Hollywood Park. He was the youngest jockey to reach that mark and did so faster than any other rider.

Dec. 23, 1944: James F. Byrnes, Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion, urged that all racing in the United States cease by Jan. 3 as a means of furthering the war effort.

Dec. 25, 1934: Santa Anita Park opened in Arcadia, Calif. A five- year-old mare, Las Palmas, won the inaugural race, the California- Bred Handicap, before a crowd of 30,777.

Hollywood Starlet Stakes, 2yo fillies, $150,000, 1 1-16M, Grade I, Hollywood
The Hollywood Starlet is the last major race of the year for two-year- old fillies. Sharp Cat won the Grade I Matron Stakes at Belmont and the Grade II Del Mar Debutante. City Band won the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita and the Grade III Golden Road Stakes at Churchill. High Heeled Hope won the Maker's Mark Stakes at Hollywood last time out. Critical Factor was a hard closing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Wealthy finished third in the Oak Leaf Stakes. Dunbar Hill received some support in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies off an impressive maiden score but disappointed her backers.

Hollywood Futurity, 2yo, $250,000, 1 1-16M, Grade I, Hollywood
The Hollywood Futurity features late developing two-year-olds who are entering the road to the Kentucky Derby. Inexcessive Bull easily won the Grade III Hollywood Prevue Stakes. Free House won the Grade II Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita. Swiss Yodeler won the Grade II Hollywood Juvenile Championship. Stolen Gold won the Precisionist Stakes on the Hollywood turf.

Hollywood Turf Cup Handicap, 3&up, $500,000, 1 1-2M (Turf), Grade I, Hollywood
The Hollywood Turf Cup brings together top grass horses from all divisions. Talloires set a new course record in winning the Grade I Caesars Palace Turf Championship at Hollywood in July. Windsharp will make her bid for the Eclipse Award for Best Turf Female. She finished second in the Grade I Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood two weeks ago and has beaten males twice this year. Marlin won the Grade I Hollywood Derby two weeks ago. The filly Admise was awarded the Grade I Oak Tree Turf Championship against males due to the disqualification of Bon Point who will try and gain a measure of revenge in the Turf Cup. Raintrap won the Grade I San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita. Mr. Bluebird won the Grade II Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct. Running Flame won a Group 3 stakes race in France. Mister Alleged was stakes placed in France and won a Hollywood allowance race in his American debut. Italian stakes winner Wings Bash (IRE) may make his American debut.

Dahlia Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-16M (Turf), Grade II, Hollywood
The Dahlia features a top field of grass fillies and mares. Donna Viola (GB) is a possible starter. She won the Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita with a strong late rally in her American debut. Antespend won the Grade I Del Mar Oaks on the turf and the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on the dirt this year. Real Connection finished second in the Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes. Sixieme Sens won the Grade III Athenia Handicap at Belmont. Grafin won the Flawlessly Stakes at Hollywood. Italian stakes winner De Puntillas (GB) won an allowance race at Hollywood in her American debut.

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