Calder Horses Account for Two Breeders’ Cup Races   November 10, 2010 By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director     After Calder horses had displayed their mettle at their home track in July by accounting for six of the seven Summit of Speed races, they displayed it again in this years Breeders’ Cup.  Ironically...Read More

The Missing Florida Bute Study   By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director November 10, 2010   This year in early September, Dr. Larry Soma of the University of Pennsylvania sent his equine medication advise to the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission and the Pennsylvania horsemen in a 16 page document titled “Summary of Medication Recommendations”. ...Read More

Former Florida HBPA Vice President, Tim Ritvo, Hired by MID   November 10, 2010 By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director     This spring MI Developments (MID) picked up most of the bankrupt Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) properties.  The Chairman of both companies was and is Frank Stronach.   In November of 2000, Stronach...Read More

Groom Elite   November 10, 2010   For the fourth consecutive year, Calder and the Florida HBPA held Groom Elite 101 and 201 classes conducted at Calder by Dr. Reed McClellan.  The 101 Groom Elite program graduated 22 grooms.  Most of the 101 graduates participated in the 201 course with 14 of them graduating.  Calder...Read More

FHBPA NOMINATING AND GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING   November 10, 2010   The FHBPA board approved the nominating/election committee – Teresa Palmer, Larry Pilotti, Manny Tortora (alternates – Kent Stirling, Wanda Stirling, Patricia Jernigan).   The nominees for the 2011 FHBPA election are: owners – Chester Bishop, Rohan Crichton, Kathy Davey, Sam Gordon, Adam Lazarus, Curtis...Read More

Summit of Success for Calder Horsemen   August 12, 2010 By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director     On July 10th, Calder again held the 1.35 million dollar Summit of Speed (or the “SOS”).  The Summit of Speed consisted of seven sprint races of six furlongs or less comprised of one Grade 1, two...Read More

Slots Update   August 12, 2010 By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director     I recently was told that Calder had already made a $100 million on slots through July 31, 2010, and they were only paying out a small amount to purses.  A good story but like most emanating from the backside, not...Read More

Backside Doings   August 12, 2010 By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director     The Calder Soccer League again has six teams made up of grooms, exercise riders, hot walkers and Calder employees.  The teams play every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on the training track field.   As well as the Soccer League,...Read More

“Bute – 5 mcg/ml . . . to be or not to be”   By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director   August 11, 2010   Some 400 years later, I’m sure Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet didn’t foresee his famous words being used in the topic of a panel discussion between those who advocate maintaining the...Read More

Gulfstream Park, the Lion of Winter Simulcasting Overcomes a Poor Start to win Handily   By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director May 27, 2010   Yes, it’s that time of year again when I analyze the top five winter track’s out-of-state simulcasting numbers.  These numbers are harder to get every year as more and...Read More