Monthly News & Updates

July, 2023

FTHA Awards College Scholarships to 13 Students

The FTHA’s Kent Stirling Scholarship Program will distribute $44,500 in grants to 13 students for the 2023-24 academic year, it was announced this week. The Program is open to backstretch workers at Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows, and their immediate families. Scholarships can be used for higher education in any subject at the college or university of the student’s choice. This year’s field of recipients will be pursuing degrees in everything from business, law, and medicine, to computer science, culinary arts, drama, and forensic science.

The students are: Luis Agudelo, Juan Chavez, Helen Collazo, Liseli Coy, Ronald Coy, Wilkenson Eugene, Natalie Fawkes, Jessica Flores, Vanesa Hernandez, Justin Morales, Joli Russo, Ana Ruiz, and Isabel Ruiz.

Originally from Venezuela, Liseli Coy and her brother Ron will be attending Broward College. She is working to become a nurse, while he is studying Business.

“Thanks to the FTHA Scholarship, I have the hope to be able to continue pursuing my studies and my dreams,” said Liseli, who already completed a course to become a medical assistant and had a 4.0 GPA last semester.

Ana Ruiz, whose father is an assistant trainer for Victor Barboza, is also focused on a career in medicine. “The profound impact that healthcare professionals can have on the lives of others is something that captivated me and I want to be that person who makes a positive difference in the lives of patients,” said the Miami-Dade College student.

Natalie Fawkes has been around the racetrack her whole life. She worked as an exercise rider, assistant trainer and even trained on her own for a short time, but left that behind to start college. “Working in the horse industry brought out feelings of striving to be the best with whatever path I decided to follow,” Natalie said. “Making the decision to step away from the horse industry and diving into college was no easy task…but I was not going to let that sway me.”

Fawkes will be studying Forensic Science at Eastern Kentucky University. “I plan on standing by the innocent with the help of science,” she said.

Joli Russo is studying Law at Florida Atlantic University. She initially considered a degree in Journalism, but a writing class on the U.S. Government sparked a new interest. “There was so much political conversation and so many debates,” she said. “I loved going to that class – I fell in love with the conversation and with the environment. I started watching court cases on YouTube. I realized that by becoming a lawyer I will have the opportunity of helping people.”

Wilkinson Eugene, a business student at Bethune-Cookman University, will be working hard to show his appreciation for the scholarship, and as a “thank you” to his mother. “There is nothing more in this world that I want to do than make my mother proud,” he said. “College has always been a dream for me to reach, and now I finally have.”

Kathy Davey, the chair of the Scholarship Committee, said, "We are delighted to be awarding FTHA Kent Stirling Scholarships to 13 students - the most ever! This is a terrific group of young men and women who we know will make the most of the opportunity and will do us proud in the future."

FTHA Sponsors Rapids Water Park Trip for Backstretch

More than 80 members of the Backstretch Community enjoyed a day at Rapids Water Park last week, courtesy of FTHA and 1/ST RACING. Pastor Tom and His Place Ministries arranged the trip, which included transportation and lunch.

Attention FTHA Members: Did you know that licensed owners and trainers get a 20% discount on all food and soft drinks (no discount on alcohol) at all restaurants and concessions at Gulfstream Park? Just show your badge to get the discount.

2023 FTHA Kent Stirling Scholarship Students (from left) Wilkenson Eugene, Liseli Coy, Ron Coy and Ana Ruiz

HISA Announces Policy Change for Provisional Suspensions

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on Friday announced changes to its policy on implementing provisional suspensions. These changes were advocated by the THA and other horsemen's groups. The advisory is below:

July 28, 2023 Operational Bulletins

Background: Current ADMC rules include a rule adopted from the World Anti-Doping Code requiring that any Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) whose Covered Horse tests positive for a Banned (doping) Substance be Provisionally Suspended while his/her case is being processed. A Provisional Suspension does not in any way change the presumption of innocence and is not an early determination of guilt. Instead, it is intended as a precaution to safeguard the integrity of the sport, horse welfare, and the rights of rule-abiding trainers. Provisional Suspensions have been instrumental in protecting the integrity of other sports and were introduced into horseracing for that reason.

Discussion: Last Friday, HIWU was informed that a split (B) sample did not confirm the original Laboratory finding, and, accordingly, pursuant to the ADMC regulations, HIWU dismissed the violation against a trainer who had been Provisionally Suspended 20 days earlier. This raised concerns regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions at this early stage of the ADMC Program’s rollout. Consequently, HISA’s ADMC Committee, which has oversight of the HISA ADMC rules, held a meeting and decided to make various policy decisions regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions under the ADMC Program. Various proposals received from horsemen’s groups were considered during the course of these discussions.

Policy Change: The following policy changes will be effective immediately and shall apply to any Responsible Person Provisionally Suspended following a positive test for a Banned Substance:

Any Responsible Person who requests that the B Sample be analyzed following a positive test for a Banned Substance shall be eligible for postponement of the effective date of the Provisional Suspension until such time as the B Sample result is returned. If the B Sample confirms the A Sample, the Responsible Person shall be Provisionally Suspended upon Notification of the B Sample confirmation, except that the Responsible Person shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the B Sample confirmation. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;

Any Responsible Person who does not request the B Sample analysis shall be Provisionally Suspended upon such election, except he/she shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the A Sample positive finding. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;Any Responsible Person with more than one horse that tests positive for the same Banned Substance within a six (6) month-period or who has received notice of another potential violation relating to a Banned Substance (e.g., possession, use) shall not be eligible for delayed imposition of a Provisional Suspension as set forth in paragraph 1 above;

During a Provisional Suspension, which is not a Final Suspension, Covered/Responsible Persons may engage in caring for and exercising their Covered Horses, except they cannot breeze or race Covered Horses registered to them. Should they want any Covered Horses to breeze or race, they must transfer those horses to another Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) in a bona fide transfer approved by the stewards. If the Responsible/Covered Person is an Owner, ownership of the Covered Horse must be transferred in order for it to be eligible to breeze or race. In addition, Covered/Responsible Persons: (i) must take down or cover any personal signage bearing their name or related to their operations where the Covered Horses are located at the racetrack; (ii) cannot claim Covered Horses or bring new Covered Horses into their barn; and (iii) cannot be employed in any capacity involving Covered Horses (including, but not limited to, acting as an agent for an Owner of Covered Horses or working as an exercise rider for Covered Horses.)

Covered/Responsible Persons will continue to be Provisionally Suspended upon the notice of the A Sample result if the result involves the detection of the certain Banned Substances. Click here for a list of those substances.

Additional Notes: The Policy Change shall also be applied to any currently suspended Responsible Persons. HIWU will be in contact with all those currently Provisionally Suspended to explain next steps.

The Responsible/Covered Person must pay for the B Sample analysis within seven (7) calendar days of requesting it. In cases of financial hardship, and upon the demonstration of such hardship, the Covered Person may be entitled to a payment plan to cover the cost of B Sample analysis.

This new Policy will remain in effect for so long as the ADMC Committee deems appropriate. Should the ADMC Committee decide at some future date to abandon or modify it, the industry will receive at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice.

Public Reporting under the ADMC rules will continue to occur at the time of the EAD Notice of the A Sample positive test.

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