IT’S WAR! CTT FIRES BACK
UPDATED 9 P.M.
(NOTE: Several hours after the following story was published, the Paulick Report received a press release from the group known as California Horsemen for Change in reaction to the email distributed by the California Thoroughbred Trainers to some of its members. Click here to read the press release from California Horsemen for Change.)
The civil war that broke out recently among California trainers has escalated as a result of the following email that warns horseman what could happen if California Thoroughbred Trainers is decertified. A group calling itself California Horsemen for Change is staging a palace revolt to either replace all nine members of the CTT’s current board of directors through a special election or get enough signatures from trainers to have the CTT decertified.
Click here for a previous Paulick Report story providing background on the war between the California trainers and here for a press release from the California Horsemen for Change.
Following is the warning email distributed by the California Thoroughbred Trainers to its members:
WARNING!
An organization has been formed that is attempting to eliminate the CTT. That group plans to ask the CHRB to make it the representative of all the trainers. Be aware that:
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YOUR SUPPORT OF A NEWLY FORMED TRAINER GROUP COULD HAVE SERIOUS NEGATIVE FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
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WE URGE YOU NOT TO SUPPORT THE ELIMINATION OF THE CTT
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WE URGE YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY PETITION TO DECERTIFY THE CTT
Joining that group or signing a petition to decertify the CTT could have the following consequences:
· IT COULD THREATEN THE CTT / CHSA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE PROGRAM, RESULTING IN HUGE INCREASES IN YOUR PREMIUM
· IT COULD LEAD TO TERMINATION OF THE CURRENT INSURED PENSION PLAN AND REQUIRE THAT YOU BE LIABLE FOR BENEFITS DUE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES UNDER ANY NEW INSURED PLAN
· IT COULD KILL INDUSTRY EFFORTS TO PURCHASE SANTA ANITA AS A HORSEMEN’S NON-PROFIT
· IT COULD PUT AN END TO CURRENT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE CTT AND THE TOC REGARDING UNIFICATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS
· IT COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF REPRESENTATION ON THE RACING MEDICATION & TESTING CONSORTIUM (RMTC)
If your desire is to change the management, directors, and direction of the CTT while bringing the industry new leadership, there is a much easier, faster, and sensible way to do so without creating these risks.
WHY COULD A DECERTIFICATION PETITION COST ME MONEY?
Simply put, AIG could refuse to continue with the current workers’ compensation program. This program was built on personal relationships with AIG and trust in the CTT management of the program. The program could not be replaced. There are no other insurers out there that will provide such low-cost coverage. Your only option would be State Fund at three to four times what you are now paying. In the current environment, AIG is being very careful about the way they do business. In July of each year, they are owed $11 million in premiums from the organization. They have faith in the fact that the CTT will make sure they are paid and the program will be managed honestly and efficiently. If they see turmoil and a new group being responsible for the program, they could well decide not to offer coverage. That would cost individual trainers thousands or tens of thousands each month out of their respective pockets.
WHY COULD DECERTIFICATION LEAD TO ME BEING PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR THE PENSION BENEFITS OF MY EMPLOYEES?
When the CTT Backstretch Pension Plan was created, it was allowed to become part of a federal insurance plan that did not require that each employer be individually liable for the benefits due to his/her employees. The rules have since been interpreted to provide that a plan may not obtain federal insurance unless each individual employer is liable for his/her employees’ benefits. Currently, the CTT Plan remains federally insured even though federal administrators have again raised the question of its eligibility. If the CTT were to be disbanded, the regulators could declare the plan ineligible to continue with the individual liability exception that we now enjoy. The Plan would then become uninsured.
By way of information, the Plan under current CTT management has seen its value INCREASE 42% over the past ten years. That increase in value has taken place in spite of the fact that the leading stock market index has actually DECREASED 9.4% in that same period. The current value is approximately $34 million. Approximately 760 people are currently collecting monthly benefitsand there are over 2,400 combined trainers and their employees who are registered to one day collect benefits from the Plan. The success of the CTT Pension fund is due to the dedication of a volunteer management committee that includes three professional money managers. Should a battle break out over decertification of the CTT, those volunteers are unlikely to want to continue to be involved.
WHY WOULD A DECERTIFICATION PROCESS ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A HORSEMEN’S NON-PROFIT GROUP OWNING SANTA ANITA?
The people putting together this non-profit group have advised that any turmoil within the industry at this time would make such a project impossible to finance. The investment bankers are not going to put up funds for a project when the industry is involved in a battle over horsemen’s representation.
WHY WOULD THE THREAT OF A NEW TRAINERS GROUP END ANY POSSIBILITY OF CURRENT CTT-TOC UNIFICATION?
One of the major concerns of the TOC in dealing with trainers has always been that certain dissidents would take seats on its Board. The TOC even fashioned rules to prevent that. A takeover movement by the newly formed group would again fuel those fears and cause a breakdown of current talks.
WHY WOULD THE ELIMINATION OF THE CTT AS THE TRAINERS’ REPRESENTATIVE LEAD TO A LOSS OF THE CTT’S DIRECTORS SEAT ON THE RMTC?
The RMTC is the source of almost all new medication rules and penalties in California. The CTT was one of the original members of the RMTC and is on the board of directors of that organization. If a new organization were to become the representative of the California trainers, that seat could be lost. The TOC also holds a seat on that Board and the RMTC Board may feel that no other state has duel seats and, therefore, the TOC is sufficient representation.
THERE ARE SIMPLER, FASTER, AND LESS DEVICIVE WAYS OF MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD AND CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY.
The CTT is a democratic organization owned equally by YOU and each licensed trainer in California. It has a nine person Board of Directors who are all trainers, with three directors being replaced each year by an election in which each trainer is allowed to vote.
Three directors’ seats will be up for election in less than nine months. Another three directors were elected just 3 months ago, with two of them likely to be appointed by the newly formed group to its board. By electing three new directors of your choice, you can change the make-up and direction of the CTT Board.
Given that option, ask yourself, why would I choose to use a process that requires obtaining signatures from about 1/3 of the membership, approval by the CHRB, followed by a vote of all trainers, and the time and expense of creating and funding a new organization? Why would I choose to risk the resultant damages that are described above? Why would I choose to take sides in such an angry battle that is likely to create acrimony at my workplace for years to come?
Do not support that new organization called the CHC. Do not sign any petition to decertify the CTT. You do have other more effective and less destructive options. To promote change in the industry, become active, call (626-447-2145), email to comments@caltrainers.org, or visit a CTT office and voice your concerns. Volunteer to join or create CTT committees of your choosing.
If you think you might have signed a petition to decertify the CTT and you wish to withdraw your signature, please complete the below and return to the nearest CTT office. You may also fax to the CTT at (626) 446-0270.
I hereby withdraw my name from any petition to decertify the CTT.
__________________________________ _______________
Signature Date
__________________________________
Print Name
WARNING
Tags: california horse racing, California Horse Racing Board, california thoroughbred trainers, ctt, Paulick Report, racing medication and testing consortium, Ray Paulick, thoroughbred owners of california, toc
October 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
“IT COULD PUT AN END TO CURRENT DISCUSSIONS B/T THE CTT AND THE TOC REGARDING UNIFICATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.”
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2009 at 2:56 pm
WHAT ARE THEY FIGHTING OVER? HORSES AND OWNERS ARE LEAVING CA, PURSUES ARE DECLINING AND THE CRAP TRACKS ARE KILLING HANDLE…
CA HORSERACING IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
THAT SHOULD BE PURSES, SORRY FOR MISSING THE TYPO…………..
October 21st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I guess if Jerry Jam doesn’t have a personal stake in something it’s not worth a fight.
Apparently the trainers do have a legit gripe. Their position is sure more understandable than Jerry Jam’s personal vendetta against Richard Shapiro and Ingrid Fermin! Too bad the trainers don’t have the deep pockets that Jerry Jam has to finance lawsuits meant more for publicity than for improving the game.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Over/Under 1 year on when SoCal will be racing either 3 days a week or lower the bottom claming prices to 5000 and mdn 12,500 or both.
A plane load of the best kind of horses, the ones that race every 2 weeks just left and another one will be leaving soon.
October 21st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
The ending is epic….the creation of committees…..which is “do-nothing speak” for a coffee klatch of people to initially gripe and grown, become sleepy after the third slice of cake and then table all tough issues until the next confab three months later.
October 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm
ITP———–YOU ARE RIGHT ON AND I’LL TAKE THE UNDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WATCHER…………BOTH SHAPIRO AND FERMIN MUST BE YOUR IDOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB LEADING CA HORSERACING INTO OBLIVION. I’M GLAD THEY ARE ON YOUR SIDE…
IT’S NOT ABOUT PUBLICITY, IT’S ALL ABOUT IMPROVING THE GAME WHICH I HAVE MILLIONS INVESTED IN. MY ONLY GOAL IS TO EFFECTUATE MUCH NEEDED CHANGE IN CA!!!!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:21 pm
There is no need to fight. The CTT board voted 5 to 4 to hold a new election, now the CTT executive director should do what his board voted to do. There is no need for a fight between horsemen.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:43 pm
The CHC is all about getting dirt tracks installed in Ca. and they don’t care about any of the issues mentioned above. This sole, foolhearty goal cannot be achieved by the CHC. It is up to the track owners whether to spend millions that they do not have to replace track surfaces.
The foolishness of this rebellious group could unravel the good things that have been accomplished, mainly the worker’s comp issue. Trainers, owners and their horses were leaving the state in droves - Lukas was a prime example - because they could not break even with the old worker’s comp costs.
The trainers’ group - ANY trainers’ group - does not have an ounce of power to persuade track owners to spend the millions to put dirt back in. Any trainer or owner who wants a dirt surface badly enough can move to the many tracks that still have one. We notice that Sherriffs is one who complains loudly about synthetics, yet he continues to run his best horses over them. Zenyatta has run only once on dirt in her 13 races. Why does he not send her elsewhere if our tracks are so bad?
October 21st, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I tried to read the above.
It gave me a headache!
October 21st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
CA RACETRACKS CURRENTLY RECEIVE OVER $140,000,000 PER YEAR IN LICENSE RELIEF FROM THE STATE. (STARTED IN 1998) THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO BRING BACK DIRT AND DUMP THE CRAP…
FYI - DEL MAR DIDN’T EVEN SPEND A DIME ON THEIR POLYCRAP TRACK BECAUSE THEY GOT THE AG DISTRICT TO FUND ALL OF THE MONEY. ANOTHER $6,000,000 WASTE OF CA TAXPAYER MONEY THANKS TO RICHARD SHAPIRO AND HIS ILL-FATED MANDATE…….
THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WHO GOT “FINDER FEES/KICKBACKS/COMMISSIONS” FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THESE CRAP TRACKS?????????? COULD IT BE RACETRACK MANAGEMENT OR CHRB EMPLOYEES/BOARDMEMBERS/ETC.????? WOULD YOU LIKE TO GUESS??
October 21st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Does anyone have time to train the horses?
October 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Jerry Jam, instead of dissing Shapiro and Fermin for dealing with the routine daily breakdowns on Golden Gate, Hollywood Park and Santa Anita dirt tracks, why don’t you stand up and tell everyone the REAL REASON you went for their jugglers—-their unwillingness to overturn the Del Mar stewards for forcing you to follow CHRB scratch time rules in 2005? Why don’t you COME CLEAN with the public you so pretend to represent?
Oh yeah, by the way, how come you ran so many horses this year at Presque Isle, Turfway and Keeneland—-all POLYTRACKS—-when you supposedly left California because of it??? COME CLEAN!!!!
October 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Wickedandwackypoly
October 21st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Silly question, perhaps, but if this is only about the surface, why don’t you just agree to put back in the dirt surfaces? Don’t tell me anyone’s in love with the synths and isn’t willing to let those go the way of a bad “Dallas” dream.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Whether CA tracks are made of dirt or plastic, just as many horses are killed on and off track because it is not the racing surface that destroys horses, it is the scumbags who control, drug and push infirm horses to run, those who agree to drug them, ride them and those who know and tolerate what is going on and do nothing in order to profit from the abuse.
From the Blood Horse:
“Voiding Claims possible by the CHRB”
Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB’s equine medical director, told the board — which met in the ballroom of chairman John Harris’ inn and restaurant off Interstate 5 in Coalinga, Calif. — that the rule would “take the incentive away” for trainers to drop unsound horses to far below their claiming level ability in order to rid themselves of an unsound animal.
He cited one instance of a trainer and owner at Hollywood Park last fall “high-fiving” in front of the horse ambulance after a horse that had been claimed from them broke down in a race.”
Scumbags are welcome at CA tracks and nationwide. Pre-race exams are inefficient and corrupted to fill too many races.
Those who tolerate and profit from what abusive scumbags do to horses are just as guilty of killing them as the scumbags are. Horse racing is not marketable unless it bans its abusers for life and change drastically. The public is far beyond “perception”, it gets it though it only sees the tip of that filthy iceberg.
I assume that the “high-fiving” owner and trainer still have their racing licenses and are welcome at all tracks. I assume that these scumbags were not reported to the authorities, were not charged with animal cruelty and were not sued by jockeys for endangering their lives. I assume it is business as usual and racing deserves its reputation.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
There are plenty of trainers who believe synthetic tracks keep horses sounder. People tend to voice their opinions more loudly when they are unhappy, not when they are happy, so you are not hearing as much from those who are content with the tracks.
Tracks in the east are using synthetics without much complaint, and the majority of training centers are using them. The big stables in Florida are training on them at private centers. Dubai is using them. When properly installed, they are better at keeping horses sounder and regardless of trainers’ preferences, every owner should prefer a surface that protects his investment, and every jockey should prefer a safer track.
There will always be injuries that have nothing to do with the surface, but synthetics are blamed every time there is an injury. Trainers who are experiencing excessive injuries on them should look into their shoeing methods and/or training methods. All trainers in CA should compare their barns’ attrition rates today with the previously deadly surface we had.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I agree with Priscilla. The shoeing practices are horrendous. Long toe/low heel is still rampant. The CHRB needs to start measuring hoof angles on all the racehorses that are necropsied at UC Davis and other such facilities as per their mandate. This would make a great research project.
I recently pulled a horse from a “top” trainer that had the worst bruising in all four feet my farrier had ever seen. A UC Davis expert concurred. The horse was in a shoe size way too small for his hoof size and the angles were in the 40s. Sickening.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
It’s the shoeing practices and so many other things that need to change and be gotten rid off like the old hot-walking machines. Why not own less horses and always do what is right and safest instead of endangering horses?
Common sense and prevention is extremely under-utilized at the track. No one wants to take responsibility for the mayhem and change. Why injure more horses to research what common sense shows us what must be done? The shameless, greedy and stupid cut way too many corners including with drugs. Common sense and compassion toward horses would not cost $10 Million per track.
A good synthetic track is better than hard and sloppy-sealed or frozen dirt tracks. However, jockeys compare falling on synthetic with falling on concrete. Is it the reason why two fallen jockeys became paralyzed this summer at Arlington Park? Is it why we see more odd catastrophic injuries such as complete fetlock dislocations, major bone and hind leg fractures especially at Golden Gate Fields though that track races many spent and broken horses sent “up North” with a one way ticket and the intention to liquidate them. As long as infirm horses owned and trained by shameless characters are allowed to run on drugs the injury rate will be terrible on any surface. I have yet to see comprehensive season and career ending injury stats for CA synthetic released to the public.
What really destroys horses is the administration of drugs not to heal horses but to exploit and dump them and the shameless high-fiving abusers and would-be-felons-in-the-outside-world, whether they openly brag about unloading crippled and dead claimed horses on others or not.
Racing is paying for the lack of equine/jockey protection, authority, penalties and the abundance of drugs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
In response to Joe, who cited a Bloodhorse article quoting Rick Arthur.
Why aren’t those people named (who were high-fiving after their horse who was claimed, broke down)?!?!?! They should be shamed out of the business. I would love to be able to look them in the eye and call them a “dirtbag piece of sh!t” whenever I see them at the races. I’m sure others who love the horses and the game would like to be able to shame those individuals on a regular basis.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
What about the idea that synthetic tracks are better at preventing catastrophic injuries and are not necessarily better at keeping horses sound on a day to day basis?
And yes, i agree with KYH that these high fivers should be outed.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Horses are athletes and there will always be injuries. The majority of catastrophic injuries are undoubtedly horses that have been injected repeatedly. It seems like the same old names.
The horsemen who have requested a new election are concerned about the inaction of the current board. California faces many serious problems besides the synthetic surfaces that simply aren’t working. However, I know horsemen at Arlington and Woodbine that are equally dis-enchanted.
Californians worry about declining attendance and on-track handle, not getting their fair-share of the ADW and off track money , racing & training facilities when Hollywood closes, the status of Golden Gate & Santa Anita, the closing of San Luis Rey & Pomona for developing young horses, increased costs and diminishing purses, owners and trainers leaving the state, races that don’t fill, the list goes on.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
All horses should have to pass an MRI before being allowed to race at any track and MRI’s should be mandatory at least once or twice a year . I think that soft sand over solid rubber would make a better surface. Sand never gets slippery or hard. Turf should be sand and humus. The sand track could be covered with a roof like a carport has to prevent people and horses from being drenched. All claiming races should be optional claimers and all race day drugs banned. Racing should be canceled if temperature and humidity are too high so horses will not get heatstroke or have racing at night instead. Evening racing allows more people to attend since most work during the day. Track vets need to look more closely at horse like checking their feet,etc before allowing them to run. If there is any sign of any unsoundnes they should scratch the horse. Contributions to horse rescue, rehabilitation and retraining should be mandatory. Veterinarians are usually the ones administering drugs and should be held accountable along with trainers.. If a vet gives a drug to a horse or a trainer for a horse he should get a fine or suspension also. Jockeys whose riding tactics cause injury or death to other riders and/or horses should be banned from riding for 6 months to life depending on how much harm they caused to others and should be personally liable to horse owners and other jockeys..If horses race barefoot their owners would spend less and horses would not have sore feet from shoes that do not fit or abscesses from misplaced nails. Trainers should be educated enough to know when horses feet have been trimmed properly and so should grooms.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
This is getting too crazy.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Not at all crazy, Margrethe! Brilliant, way overdue suggestions/recommendations.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
How are you guys going to watch the races under a carport?
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
The advent of night racing is what caused the horsemen’s split in the first place from the TOC, resulting in the formation of the CTT. Remember the boycott at Hollywood Park when they first tried to introduce it?
Horsemen all dread night racing, understandably, but it is what was needed then and what is desperately needed now. Week days are empty. Friday nights at Hollywood and Del Mar are very popular.
It’s time we all face it and do what is best for our sport and put the show on when people are able to come and enjoy an evening at the races. Put aside selfish spoiled habits. We might save California racing.