Recap of April 15, Hats on the Avenue at Varanese

John Asher from Churchill Downs gave a very effective talk tonight about the depth of this years Derby field with regard to their finishing times and rating ability. He also spoke to the tragedy of Eight Belles and the on-going work influenced by that singular accident and the passing of the champion Barbaro and that Churchill Downs will be honoring both horses and their connections with tributes during Derby week and the Kentucky Derby day. A race, the La Troienne Stakes has been renamed the Eight Belles Stakes and 8 bells will be rung during a ceremony during Derby day.John also addressed the on-going efforts of Churchill Downs Inc., the NTRA and the Ky Horse Racing Commision to insure safe guards for competing horses as far as banning steroids, toe-grab shoes, length and type of whip as well as the quality of the track. Jennifer Hoert from the Backside Learning Center then spoke about the on-going education services that they provide to trainers and their grooms in all areas of equine psychology,track safety and Spanish to English lanquage training. She appealed to our predominately female audience on the need for volunteers. Kate Wilt, President of My Racing Heart has deferred the silent auction proceeds of the autographed ,framed and mounted picture of Barbaro "in flight" at Derby 2006 to the Backside Center with the approval of the donors, the Bill and Carolyn Karlson Foundation. It will be announced the night of Wed., April 29 by Carolyn Karlson and is dedicated to the memory of Barbaro and the efforts of the Fans of Barbaro.