NEGLECT UPDATE

By Jonathan MummoloWashington Post Staff Writer Thursday, January 31, 2008

A Loudoun County judge ruled yesterday that 48 horses seized by county officials last week were "cruelly treated," and he awarded custody of the thoroughbreds to the county.

General District Court Judge J. Frank Buttery Jr. signed an order giving custody of the horses to Loudoun County Animal Care and Control and ordered their owners to reimburse the county for food and medical costs incurred since the seizure, almost $8,000 so far. Dennis Danley, Donald Cutshaw and Pablo Cosme were named as owners.

"Clearly the Commonwealth has proved in this case that the animals . . . were cruelly treated," Buttery said, after reviewing photos of the horses and conditions on the Middleburg-area farm where they were seized. "Certainly not enough food or even water was provided for them."

Under Buttery's order, Danley is prohibited from owning agricultural animals in Virginia because of a prior conviction. Cosme and Cutshaw cannot own agricultural animals in the state for two years.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jason Faw said criminal charges are pending.

RACING TO THE SUPER BOWL

Who was that silver-haired quipster doing interviews up and down Radio Row at the Super Bowl in suburban Phoenix yesterday? None other than Bob Baffert who did the series of radio gigs on behalf of the NTRA to promote the upcoming racing season.

Baffert who will saddle Air Commander in Saturday's Strub Stakes at Santa Anita was asked questions on a number of racing topics. But per Super Bowl tradition, the question he fielded most often surrounded which team he liked in Sunday's big game.

For the record, Baffert picks the New England Patriots to defeat the New York Giants 38-31.

People used to be mad at Baffert because he was so successful -- too many horses, won too many races. Now, they're mad at Todd Pletcher for the same reasons.

Go figure.

FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR BARBARO

Roy Jackson, left, and Gretchen Jackson, center, speak with Lynn Ashton, Executive Director of the Kentucky Derby Museum following the announcement that the remains of Barbaro will be interred at Churchill Downs Tuesday Jan. 29, 2008 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The site will also include a bronze statue commissioned by the Jacksons and loaned to the track as part of the official memorial site. The track will install a bronze marker at the site soon. The track plans to unveil the statue and formally dedicate the site in 2009.

(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

HORSE NEGLECT CASE IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

By Jonathan MummoloWashington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

One of three men identified in court records as the owners of 48 horses seized by animal control officials in Loudoun County last week faced animal cruelty charges last year in West Virginia, according to court records and interviews.

Dennis B. Danley, 55, a horse trainer from Charles Town, W.Va., was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty in Jefferson County, W.Va., after authorities, according to news accounts, found 10 mares with exposed rib cages and spines among 60 horses at a farm south of Charles Town.

Danley pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty in August. He was fined, received a 90-day suspended jail sentence and a year of probation, and agreed to give up ownership of horses for five years, said his attorney in the case, Harley O. Wagner. Under the deal, Danley was allowed to continue training horses, Wagner said.

Tomorrow, a Loudoun General District Court judge will determine whether Danley and the two other men listed as owners of the seized horses, Donald Cutshaw and Pablo Cosme, are fit to provide for and own them, according to court documents. Many of the horses were found emaciated and diseased.

Laura Rizer, a spokeswoman for Loudoun County Animal Care and Control, declined to comment about the men or the ownership of the horses.

Reached by phone in Lafayette, La., Danley said that he owns no horses and that he worked as a trainer on the Middleburg property where the horses were found from July until about two months ago. He said he also was there about 2 1/2 weeks ago and fed the horses before leaving to look for work in Louisiana. He said he was told that another person would tend to the animals.

The horses were in good condition, with plenty of food, when he last saw them, he said.

"They want me up there Wednesday at 10 o'clock," Danley said, referring to county officials who contacted him about the hearing. "They told me they seized the horses. I said, 'How come?' They said, 'Well, they're in bad shape.' . . . I said, 'What do you mean? There's seed and there's hay there.' "

Cutshaw, 46, who also lives in West Virginia, said he leased the land and owned one horse. He said he will cooperate with officials investigating the case.

Cosme, who Danley and several horse breeders said worked on the farm, could not be reached for comment.

Last Tuesday, animal control officers seized the thoroughbreds after an anonymous tip in November alerted authorities to poor conditions at the farm. County officials said they made regular visits to the property after receiving the tip and decided to seize the animals after their condition seriously declined.

They were taken to the county's animal shelter and treated by a veterinarian.

The horses were infested with parasites, according to a veterinarian enlisted by the county, and several were pregnant and scored a 1 out of 5, the lowest rating, on an index used to measure body mass. Many were found standing in their own waste and lacking drinking water.
Horse breeders were outraged by the case.

"I am shocked and horrified, as would be any responsible animal owner," said Donna Rogers, a veteran horse breeder in Hamilton who is on the board of directors of the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "It's shameful, and there is no excuse for it. If somebody has run out of money or run out of feed, there are so many places they can go to for help. . . . Many, many people would have volunteered to help if they had asked."

TWO VA-BREDS ON EXPERIMENTAL

Down from 2006 when the Commonwealth posted four two-year-olds on the Jockey Club’s Experimental Free Handicap, the 2007 list includes two representatives from the Old Dominion.

Edward P. Evans’ homebred Grand Minstrel, by Grand Slam, out of Colonial Minstrel by Pleasant Colony is rated at 104 lbs.

Grand Minstrel made his debut at Saratoga, finishing second third in a maiden special. He came back two weeks later and improved to second beaten a neck by Mythical Pegasus.

He then broke his maiden by two lengths at Belmont before finishing third in an allowance race at Aqueduct. In December, also at the Big A, Grand Minstrel won the $75,000 Capote S. L. by five widening lengths.

Grand Minstrel is trained by James Jenkins, and now ended the year with $101,350 in earnings.

Virginia-bred T.J.'s Posse, who was bred by Larry Johnson is ranked at 100 lbs. on the Experimental. By Posse, out of T.J.’s Turn by Meadowlake, T.J.’s Posse sold for $10,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale in Maryland. From there, he did a fair amount of traveling.

He broke his maiden in his debut, a $30,000 maiden claiming race, for owners Viner Stables and fox Hill Farm and trainer Steve Asmussen, at Churchill Downs. He then shipped to Colonial Downs where he won the inaugural $60,000 Jamestown Stakes for Virginia-breds.

From Virginia, he headed off to Chicago, where he was fourth in the Arlington Washington Futurity Gr. 3, before heading back down to Kentucky for a sixth place finish in Kentucky Cup Juvenile Gr. 3.

Looking to collect a few more Frequent Traveler Points, T.J.’s Posse then headed west to New Mexico where he was second beaten a neck in the $60,000 Governors Stakes. While crossing the country, T.J.’s Posse earned $73,888.

English Channel wins Eclipse

English Channel, winner of the Virginia Derby (Grade II) and Colonial Turf Cup (Gr. III) at Colonial Downs in 2005, was named male turf horse of the year for 2007 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association at the Eclipse Awards last week in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 6-year-old, which won the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr. I) by seven lengths in October at Monmouth Park, will commence his stud career this season at Hurricane Hall near Lexington, Ky.

(Photo by Jeff Coady)

LEADING 2007 VIRGINIA-BRED EARNERS

...of $50,000 or more.

1) Christmas Kid 04 B F, BY Lemon Drop Kid 1996 -- Christmas Gift 1992, Evans Edward P., $554,500
2) Mini Sermon 04 GR/RO F, BY Pulpit 1994 -- Ministorm 1996 , Evans Edward P. $256,100
3) Pleasant Strike 04 DK B/ C, BY Smart Strike 1992 -- Colonella 1999, Evans Edward P. $178,300
4) Eishin Boston 02 CH H, BY Cat Thief 1996 -- Mather Miss 1994, Audley Farm $166,565
5) Dorm Fever 04 DK B/ F, BY Stormin Fever 1994 -- Dorm 1996 Evans Edward P. $147,616
6) Kona Blend 03 B G, BY Dixieland Band 1980 -- Life in Seattle 1998, Lazy Lane Stables, Inc. $147,300
7) Intentional Fever 04 DK B/ F, BY Stormin Fever 1994 -- Dance Teacher 1985, Evans Edward P. $145,820
8)Power Jeans 03 DK B/ G, BY One More Power 1993 -- Thirty Eight Jeans 1995 Streaker William $132,250
9) Ceres Man 04 B C, BY Capote 1984 -- Seemslikearocket 1997 Audley Farm $120,930
10) Sweetdownthelane 03 B M, BY Quiet American 1986 -- Loa 1983 Audley Farms $120,000
11) Tosen Stealth 05 DK B/ C, BY Pulpit 1994 -- Lady's Legacy 1993 McNeely C. Wilson Mrs. III $110,586
12) Grand Minstrel 05 GR/RO C, BY Grand Slam 1995 -- Colonial Minstrel 1994 Evans Edward P. $101,350
13) Marital Asset 03 B H, BY A.P. Indy 1989 -- Marital Spook 1990 Evans Edward P. $101,313
14) Jenkin Jones 02 B G, BY Malibu Moon 1997 -- Cautionary Tale 1993 Country Life Farm $98,420
15) Minidrop 03 GR/RO G, BY Lemon Drop Kid 1996 -- Ministorm 1996 Evans Edward P. $91,080
16) Loveyasister 04 B F, BY Not For Love 1990 -- The Ruler's Sister 1993 Audley Farm $86,270
17) Sir Whimsey 04 DK B/ C, BY Jump Start 1999 -- Apogee 1994 Chance Farm $82,851
18) Sandys Gold 02 CH G, BY Swiss Yodeler 1994 -- Starighaway Whirl 1997 Harris V $78,215
19) Kapalua Bay 03 CH H, BY Mutakddim 1991 -- Lonesome Sound 1992 Tomlinson Kenneth $76,400
20) Mr. Madison 04 DK B/ G, BY Wild Rush 1994 -- Shorcount 1991 Paisley Eugenia D. $74,437
21) Changeisgonnacome 04 B F, BY Cherokee Run 1990 -- Top Tip 19 Audley Farm $74,321
22) T. J.'s Posse 05 B C, BY Posse 2000 -- T. J.'s Turn 1991 Johnson Larry $73,888
23) Kewen 00 DK B/ G, BY Formal Gold 1993 -- Morgan Springs 199Audley Farm Inc. $72,160
24) Perfect Forest 04 B F, BY Forestry 1996 -- Perfect Probe 1990 Evans Edward P. $71,940
25) Culpeper Moon 01 DK B/ M, BY Malibu Moon 1997 -- Snowrico 1988 Cheryl Keller & Erika Rozell $71,616
26) Dillon Said 04 B G, BY In Case 1990 -- Star Ruby 1998 Poe Albert O. $69,102
27) Winstrella 04 GR/RO C, BY Gone West 1984 -- Minstrella 1984 Evans Edward P. $69,047
28) Bridled Jet 03 B G, BY Unbridled Jet 1996 -- Julie Lynn 1991 Daniel David $67,314
29) Makin My Day 04 B G, BY Makin 1990 -- Boston Princess 1995 Sally Ann & Gerald B Yeckley Jr $66,930
30) Candy Jo 03 GR/RO M, BY Maria's Mon 1993 -- Live Your Best 1994 Evans Edward P. $64,000
31) Salmo 96 CH H, BY Northern Baby 1976 -- Melantha 1984 Collette Sara E. $63,600
32) Rgirldoesn'tbluff 03 DK B/ M, BY Pine Bluff 1989 -- Chasing Wind 1995 Lazy Lane Stables, Inc. $63,000
33) Newton John 02 DK B/ G, BY Stormin Fever 1994 -- Tap for Gold 1997 Evans Edward P. $62,299
34) Park Avenue Prince 03 B H, BY Siphon (BRZ) 1991 -- House Dressing 1989 South Gate $61,100
35) Angel I B 04 DK B/ F, BY Hay Halo 1984 -- Princess Falcon 1989 Rose Burns & Lawrence McDade $61,090
36) Top Time 02 B M, BY Marquetry 1987 -- Top Tip 1995 Audley Farm Inc. $61,030
37) Cheyenne Queen 04 B F, BY Yonaguska 1998 -- Cheyenne City 1994 South Gate $60,380
38) Humorlee 04 CH F, BY Distorted Humor 1993 -- My Own Lovely Lee 1992 Iselin Mary S. $60,197
39) Shezastormin 04 CH F, BY Storm Boot 1989 -- Alexandra's Time 1992 Morgan's Ford Farm $59,855
40) Secure Line 01 B G, BY Phone Trick 1982 -- Lyrical Ghost 1995 Evans Edward P. $59,025
41) Admiral's Cruise 02 B H, BY A.P. Indy 1989 -- Ladies Cruise 1991 Lazy Lane Stables, Inc. $58,757
42) Turnbolt 01 CH H, BY Deputy Minister 1979 -- Oxford Scholar 1993 Evans Edward P $58,661
43) Side Buster 04 CH G, BY Housebuster 1987 -- Als Delight 1998 Concepts Unlimited $58,290 44) Haytive 04 CH G, BY Hay Halo 1984 -- Leotive 1989 Noffsinger Glenn R. Dr. $57,100
45) Wye 04 DK B/ G, BY Capote 1984 -- Toe in the Water 1998 Audley Farm $54,800
46) Warning Zone 04 B C, BY Chester House 1995 -- Migrate 1995 Evans Edward P. $54,230
47) Private Diva 02 B M, BY Private Terms 1985 -- Tango Diva 1995 Lady Olivia at North Cliff LLC $53,300
48) Ghost Dancing 04 GR/RO F, BY Silver Ghost 1982 -- Ransom Dance 1996 Evans Edward P. $53,015
49) Harley Girl 00 B M, BY Western Gentleman 1990 -- Regal Harlequin 1981 Steele Kent D. Jr. $52,620
50) Painted Clown 03 CH M, BY Two Smart 1994 -- Casa Barasita 19 Johnson R. Larry $52,020 51) Super Adam 02 DK B/ G, BY My Boy Adam 1987 -- Personal Remark 1990 Dr. William Raymond Smith & Mrs. Lee An $51,120
52) Ghost Ranch Hill 03 DK B/ H, BY Broken Vow 1997 -- Missy Dear 1994 Tomlinson Kenneth Y. $50,805
53) Flash Can Dance 00 CH G, BY Fred Astaire 1983 -- Fuzzy Feathers 1988 Beverly Bouse & Anne N. Tucker $50,762
54) Serious Fever 04 DK B/ C, BY Stormin Fever 1994 -- Dixie Chimes 1989 Evans Edward P. $50,150
55) Glenwood Ace 04 DK B/ G, BY Officer 1999 -- Misty Rain 1996 Chance Farm $50,108
56) Skipaslew 01 CH G, BY Skip Away 1993 -- Slew Be 19Morgan's Ford Farm & Skip Away, LLC $50,080

LEES WINS PHOTOGRAPHY ECLIPSE

(from BloodHorse.com)

Photographer Doulgas Lees of Warrenton, Va., has won the 2007 Media Eclipse Award for Photography with his picture "Down to Earth," the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Dec. 21.

The photo, taken Oct. 20, is of jockey Will Haynes and his mount, Navesink View, tumbling over a fence at the International Gold Cup at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va. It appeared in the sports section of the Fauquier Times Democrat on Oct. 24.

This is the second Media Eclipse Award for photography for the 57-year-old Lees, who won his first bronze statue in 1978 for a steeplechase photo also published in the Fauquier Democrat. Lees was also an honorable mention for the photography Eclipse in 1980, 1981, and 1994.

“It feels phenomenal. I’m just blown away to win again,” said Lees, a freelance photographer whose photographs have appeared in several equine publications and hard cover books in the Mid-Atlantic region over the past forty years. “I’ve been trying for many years since 1978 to get another award, so this is a great thrill. The most important thing about this photo is that both the horse and the rider were alright after the spill.”

In the Gold Cup, a $50,000 timber stakes at 3 ½ miles, Lees captured 8-year-old gelding Navesink View pitched forward on his front two legs over a four-foot fence, while jockey Haynes is upside down, still holding the horse’s reins before landing on the ground. Both horse and rider were uninjured.

Lees took the photo at approximately 75 feet from the fence with a 70-200 telephoto zoom lens.

THE HOLIDAYS...

...they were fun while they lasted.

Happy New Year!