Puerto Rico

Horsemen who are alleging a "present and clear danger" because of a decade's worth of purportedly uncorrected safety issues at Camarero Race Track continue to legally spar with the corporate owners of Puerto Rico's only track and the gaming commission that regulates the island's racing. In response to an Apr. 26 federal lawsuit filed by the Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association, Inc. (PRHOA), both the owners of the track and the Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico filed responses in the United States District Court of Puerto Rico this month that...

The non-profit Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association, Inc. (PRHOA) has sued the Gaming Commission of the Government of Puerto Rico and the corporate owners of Camarero Race Track in United States federal court, seeking $500,000 in horse-injury damages because of allegedly unsafe track conditions that the PRHOA is claiming have persisted at Puerto Rico's only Thoroughbred venue for nearly a decade. The PRHOA also claimed in its Apr. 26 lawsuit in United States District Court (District of Puerto Rico) that despite several years of official complaints lodged to address the...

Fred Hart didn't own, train or breed Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), the winner of the 2018 GII Louisiana Derby and the seventh-place finisher in that year's GI Kentucky Derby. But he did have a connection. An owner and breeder of modest means, he owned Noble Indy's dam, Noble Maz (Storm Boot), buying her for $9,000 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October Yearling Sale. He would later lose her in a $25,000 claimer, which turned out to be her last race. But even that minor role in the career of...

In early August, during the second session of this year's Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings Sale, a member of the Hidden Lake Farm consignment's team led a uniquely colored grey Ghostzapper filly into the sale ring and handed her off to the ringman on duty, Eddie Ortiz. As the auctioneer introduced the filly and bidding ensued, each nervous flick of her ear was met with a reassuring stroke down her neck, along her back and across the underside of her belly. Quiet words were spoken, only heard by Ortiz and...

The future of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare is up in the air as the non-profit organization faces an unprecedented increase in both rehab cases and operating expenses. "Responsible aftercare is an imperative duty of the racing industry--one that cannot be overlooked or ignored," said CTA Adoption Coordinator Chrissy Laughlin. "As they profit from breeding and bringing these magnificent horses to Puerto Rico, it is incumbent upon the industry to step up and provide the essential funding for their lifelong well-being and care. Embracing this responsibility with unwavering dedication will ensure a...

The annual Dec. 26 start of the Santa Anita season has a natural, anticipatory, turn-the-page vibe to it. But this mark-your-calendar Opening Day mainstay hasn't always been a post-holiday tradition. Although Santa Anita has kicked off its winter/spring meet on the day after Christmas every year since 1977, the track originally opened in 1934 on Christmas Day itself, and did so for the first four years of its existence. "Filmdom entirely forgot its world of make-believe to migrate to the Santa Anita track yesterday for the renewal of horse racing...

About 24 hours before Lane's End Farm's City of Light (Quality Road--Paris Notion, by Dehere) celebrated his first American winner in the form of Ellis Park second-time starter Roja Ligera, the first-crop stallion was represented by his first winner when the colt City of Knowledge raced away to graduate by daylight in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance over a sloppy strip at Hipodromo Camarero outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saturday, July 30. Sent off the 4-5 second choice in a field of six, the $100,000 Keeneland September yearling and $32,000...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino hosted the seventh annual World Jockey Challenge Thursday with the team of seven jockeys representing Puerto Rico getting the win over a total of nine countries in the competition. Team Mexico was the runner-up while Team United States came in third. A special winner's circle presentation honored Team Puerto Rico with the World Jockey Challenge trophy. The trophy is on display in the grandstand.

I am Shelley Blodgett, co-founder of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc. (CTA), a non-profit (501c3) that helps Thoroughbreds racing in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I live on the U.S. mainland and have also worked here to help Thoroughbreds and other horse breeds in need. I wrote a letter to the editor published in TDN in September, 2017, asking for help following Hurricane Maria's devastation of Puerto Rico and its racetrack, Hipodromo Camarero. The response was swift and impactful. So many individuals and industry entities were moved to help,...

Maraud (Blame--Unbridled Empire, by Empire Maker), who won or placed in graded stakes from 2017-2020, has been retired from racing and will stand at Potrero Los Llanos in Coamo, Puerto Rico. Winner of the GII American Turf S. and the GIII Palm Beach S., he placed in an additional four graded events and last raced Mar. 11 at Fair Grounds for Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Bret Calhoun. He was a $375,000 Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old purchase in 2017. A half-brother to GISW Arklow (Arch) from the family of champion Silverbulletday (Silver...

There is not much Marc Tacher hasn't tried his hand at in the horse racing industry. The native of Puerto Rico breeds, buys and races horses; owns part of a racetrack; and pinhooks. He hopes to enjoy more pinhooking success Wednesday as he sends three juveniles through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Tacher was bit by the racing bug at a young age and made his first investment in the game early in his adult years. "I got into horse racing early. As...

Based in Puerto Rico, the mission of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc. (CTA), is rehabilitation, retraining, retirement, and adoption for Thoroughbreds in the Caribbean. The organization recently posted on its Facebook page images of the three Thoroughbreds they most recently accepted from Hippodrome Camarero, the Thoroughbred track in Puerto Rico. All three, Salary Cap (Street Boss), Too Fast For Love (Harlington), or Keep Me Grounded (First Samurai) will need rehabilitation and have only a chance at being sound for trail or light riding. Since December, CTA has been looking for a...