Happily Unbridled

Despite the low approval ratings for Congress, American equestrians are still interested in what Congress is doing. Why? Because what Congress does–or does not do–impacts the horse industry. This is true regardless of your breed or discipline, whether you are an individual owner, run a track or show, own a horse business, work in the industry as a servi…

With massages, chiropractic care, touch therapy, and other manual therapy approaches, one could say that today's horses are living the high life. But just how effective are these modalities in relieving back pain? According to one researcher, they can be very effective if applied properly.

There will be 42 graded races in Canada in 2012, up from 37 last year, The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee announced Jan. 25 following its annual review.

Teddy’s Promise, upset winner of the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) last month, puts her three-race victory streak on the line in the $300,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Jan. 28.

Killer Graces, winner of the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) last month, renews her rivalry with Charm the Maker as the 123-pound high weight in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Dec. 28.

Caracortado, a stunning come-from-behind winner of the Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIt) on Santa Anita’s hillside earlier this month, heads the field for the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes over the same course Jan. 28.

Proceed Bee is the obvious choice in the Jan. 28 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park. But he will face some still competition from the likes of several other promising horses.

Mike Fox, the 2007 Queen’s Plate Stakes winner for breeder/owner D. Morgan Firestone, has been retired from racing for stallion duty at Firestone Farms near Caledon, Ontario, Canada.

The parameters of a constitutional amendment on casino-style gambling in Kentucky have been agreed upon, and legislation will be introduced soon, the governor’s office said Jan. 25.

A New York trainer has been fined $500 by state regulators for verbally harassing a veterinarian and her assistant following a drug test on a horse last March at Belmont racetrack.