News Worthy

10-13-09 Update: Cyclone Larry, a 3 year-old thoroughbred bred in Newell, SC. has been chosen as one of the stars of the movie. Four other horses have been cast to share screen time as Secretariat. PRODUCERS OF UPCOMING DISNEY MOVIE ACTIVELY SEEKING HORSES FOR TITLE ROLE OF "SECRETARIAT" (August 6 2009) - In preparation for the shooting later this year of the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures' movie "Secretariat", Mayhem Pictures, the producers of the film, will conduct an open, online "casting call" for horses to portray the legendary 1973 Triple Crown winner. Interested horse owners may email photographs of their equine, big-screen hopeful to casting@secretariat.com. Applicants must also complete an online Secretariat casting form at www.secretariat.com, where additional information about the casting call can also be found. All photographs will be personally reviewed by the lead wrangler for "Secretariat", Rusty Hendrickson, who was also in charge of horse selection for such recent major motion pictures as "Seabiscuit" and "Dreamer". "The three main qualities I'm looking for in a horse to portray Secretariat are looks, temperament and soundness," said Hendrickson. "A big flashy chestnut would obviously have an inherent advantage, but I'm going to need at least two ‘main Secretariats and perhaps four stand-ins. I know that he was one of a kind, but we'll do the best we can. A calm temperament is particularly key, especially when multiple takes are involved. But applicants need not feel that they must have an identical looking horse to be considered. We can do wonders with equine makeup for the white facial markings and the three white socks. Our horses need to be sound—but racing experience is not a necessity. And Secretariat's short back and round hip are somewhat reminiscent of American Quarter Horses, so owners of that breed should also feel free to make submissions." "We feel we have a compelling story to tell in our movie, and we want the imagery to be as accurate as possible," said Mark Ciardi, producer for Mayhem Pictures. "This Secretariat casting call will help us to find the very best Secretariats possible to portray the iconic chestnut champion." "The selection of the horses to portray Secretariat is a matter of great interest to me," said Penny Chenery, Secretariat's distinguished owner. "I am delighted Disney is embracing the challenge of finding the best representative for my handsome colt."

	GUEST COMMENTARY - SELLING HORSES BY THE POUND Today, as we celebrate the final leg of the American Triple Crown, horseman and anti-slaughter activist Alex Brown(click here to visit his web site) takes us on a visit to a different kind of venue, where the horses are not revered for their speed or heart or personalities but mostly for how much meat they carry on their bones. All of the regulated horse slaughterhouses in the United States have been closed, though Congress has yet to act on federal legislation banning horse slaughter. It remains a viable industry in Canada, where Brown currently is based. — Ray Paulick By Alex Brown A visit to a kill auction. I arrived at about 11:45 am, as usual.  It is a one-hour drive from the Woodbine racetrack near Toronto, Canada, where I work in the mornings galloping horses for trainer Steve Asmussen.  I parked in the back, among the stock trailers.  I entered the drafty building and walked along the overhead walkway with all the horses in pens beneath me.  There were about 75 horses today.  Some were in large pens that hold 10 or 12.  Some were in smaller pens.  Some with halters.  Some without.  All standing there, a little perplexed no doubt, regarding their new circumstances. click here to read the rest of the article

Hello! Cathy Insley has sent you the following article from TheHorse.com. Churchill Downs Implements Safety and Welfare Plan * Churchill Downs Incorporated has announced a series of new rules and policies designed to enhance the safety and welfare of jockeys and horses. The measures will be in place at Churchill Downs racetrack in advance of the this year's Kentucky Derby and will include standardized third-party testing of track surfaces and comprehensive testing of all winning horses for more than 100 prohibited drugs. The safety initiatives will be implemented at Churchill .... Read more... * This article can also be accessed by copying and pasting the entire address below into your web browser. http://www.thehorse.com//ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13709&eID=109750 Subscribe to The Horse magazine today!   Sponsored by: Copyright (c) 2009 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved.

	List of States Introducing Slaughter Legislation Grows by: Pat Raia February 19 2009 Article # 13639 Click here to read article

	Commentary: The Racetrack, A Changing Perspective by: Equine Disease Quarterly January 20 2009, Article # 13479 Click here to read article

	Illinois Track Implements Welfare Plan by: Esther Marr January 28 2009, Article # 13524 Click here to read article

	January 15, 2009 Let's Make 2009 the Year of the Horse Call your U.S. Representative Today Dear Friend, The 111th Congress just began last week, and the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, H.R. 503, has already been introduced. With thousands of horses a month being shipped over the border to Mexico and Canada where they are shot and stabbed to death for their meat, we can’t waste any time. Like past legislation (the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act), the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503) will prohibit the sale and transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption, including horses being shipped over the border for slaughter. We're off to an amazing start with this bill -- there were 61 co-sponsors already signed on to the bill the moment it was introduced! We need your help to ensure that your U.S. Representative is added to this list of co-sponsors. TAKE ACTION Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative to ask your Rep. to co-sponsor H.R. 503, the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. Click here to look up your U.S. Representative and the phone number. When you call, you will speak to a staff member who can pass your message along to your legislator. Please be polite and professional, and leave your name and address so it is clear that you are a constituent. You can say: "Hello, my name is [your name] and I live in [your town]. As a constituent, I'm calling to urge [Representative's name] to co-sponsor H.R. 503, the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, a bill that was just reintroduced to prevent horses from being cruelly slaughtered for human consumption. Thank you." We're tracking the impact of your calls, so please let us know you called your Representative. Finally, please tell your friends and family to make the call, too. Thank you for continuing to fight to protect horses from slaughter. Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle President & CEO The Humane Society of the United States

	Barbaro Fund Supports Reseach Projects by: Edited Press Release December 08 2008, Article # 13235   Click here to read article