Demand That The New York State Gaming Commission Revokes David Jacobson's Owner/Trainer License

**PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF OUR PETITION FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE**

We, the undersigned, call on the New York State Gaming Commission to revoke the owner/trainer license of David Jacobson. In 1981, Mr. Jacobson's trainer's license was suspended after he was charged with "failing to provide adequate food and medical attention" to a horse named Hugable Tom, who was euthanized on Sept. 28, 1981. In 2007, his suspension was lifted and he was allowed to resume training. Since April 16th, 2009 there have been fifteen deaths - six of those in the last fifteen months - involving horses trained by Mr. Jacobson in New York State alone. Additional equine athletes have suffered similar fates at racetracks outside of New York. Furthermore, since returning to training in 2007, Mr. Jacobson has incurred three medication violations; one for an overage of the painkiller phenylbutazone, as well as two violations for overages of clenbuterol. Mr. Jacobson has numerous other rulings on his record, including multiple fines that were reportedly levied for a "failure to conduct business in a proper manner," necessitating late scratches of horses he entered to race. We believe that allowing Mr. Jacobson to train and race horses that are under his care is not only a threat to the safety of those horses, but a threat to the safety and well-being of all horses and riders that must share the New York racetracks with him. We present the following list of horses owned and/or trained by Mr. Jacobson who have met an untimely demise within the last sixteen months:

Cherokee Artist was a nine year old horse. He had won 13 races from 56 lifetime starts, and just over $909,000 in earnings. He ran second in the grade two Ohio Derby as a three year old. On November 28th, 2014, in the sixth race at Aqueduct, Cherokee Artist was pulled up at the half mile pole. He was taken off the track in the horse ambulance. X-rays revealed a fracture of his right front leg. Cherokee Artist was humanely euthanized.

Aussi Austin was a six year old horse who was victorious in 6 of 33 lifetime races, and had earned over $268,000. On April 25th, 2014, in the eighth race at Aqueduct, Aussi Austin was leading by five and a half lengths at the top of the stretch. One sixteenth of a mile later he began to shorten stride, yet he remained in front as he crossed the wire. Aussi Austin was pulled up after the finish, and taken off the track in the horse ambulance. X-rays revealed a spiral fracture of his left front. Aussi Austin was humanely euthanized.

Uncle Smokey was a six year old gelding. He had won 2 races from 27 lifetime starts and just over $153,000 in earnings. He ran second in the Sweet Envoy Stakes as a three year old. On January 2nd, 2014, in the seventh race at Aqueduct, Uncle Smokey broke down at the three-eighths pole and was pulled up. He had suffered a fracture of the left front cannon bone. Uncle Smokey was humanely euthanized on the track.

Saginaw was an eight year old gelding. He was victorious in an amazing 21 of 41 lifetime races. Saginaw's earnings were just shy of $975,000, and he had won ten stakes events during his career. During the third race on August 30th, 2013, Saginaw broke down near the seven-sixteenths pole. He lost his action instantly, and was pulled up. He was taken off the track in the horse ambulance. X-rays revealed a fracture of his left front leg. Saginaw was humanely euthanized.

Clawback was a four year old colt. Clawback had won 4 of 9 lifetime races, and had earned over $178,000. He won the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes as a three year old. Clawback was then claimed by Mr. Jacobson out of the first race on December 22nd, 2013. Clawback would never race again. On April 10th, 2014, Clawback was found lying down in his stall. Examinations revealed clinical signs of neurological weakness. Clawback was medicated, but the colt was still unable to stand - despite his multiple attempts. Clawback was humanely euthanized.

Clawback's death would trigger precautionary bio security measures when samples taken from one of his nostrils tested "marginal" for EHV-1. Horses that were stabled in his barn were not allowed to race or ship out of the racetrack grounds for an extended period of time. It was later revealed that Clawback had been ill for three to four weeks prior to him being discovered - too ill to stand - on April 10th.

**During the running of the first race today, December 11th, at Aqueduct, the horse Ludo Bagman, trained by David Jacobson, was pulled up and eased. He was vanned off the track and it was discovered that he had suffered a sesamoid injury. Ludo Bagman was humanely euthanized.

This incident is more evidence that the situation regarding David Jacobson is dire and must be acted on IMMEDIATELY.**