Last week many news outlets ran a story from the Associated Press that left readers with a possible mischaracterization of a court action under taken by TMB Racing against the State of Oregon over it’s new The Flying Lark entertainment venue associated with Grants Pass Downs.
TMB Racing’s CEO Travis Boersma, who alongside his late brother Dane, co-founded Dutch Bros in Grants Pass back in 1992. Dane (Boersma) passed away from ALS in 2009.
While many other media outlets simply said that TMB (and Boersma) were “suing” the state, NW Horse Report dug into the actual legal filing for more details, discovering that their court action was no more than a “petition” for a “Motion to Compel Agency To Act”, sometimes referred to and known as a Writ of Mandamus. The action was filed in Josephine County by attorney J. Matthew Donohue with Holland & Knight LLP, a Portland based law firm representing Boersma’s company, TMB Racing.
The action stems over the Oregon Racing Commissions’ delay related to the approval of it’s historical horse racing wagering machines, a delay which the petition characterized as “unreasonable in light of the circumstances”. Oregon Governor Kate Brown recently told the Oregon Racing Commission in November to slow down the process following complaints from several Oregon tribal governments. The tribes allege that such machines no longer met the statutory definition of parimutuel betting in which bettors wager against one another, but instead are a wager against the house.
A 2013 law was passed by the Oregon legislature that allows commercial horse tracks to offer betting on the historical horse racing machines. The same machines had been previously used at Portland Meadows which shuttered in December of 2019.
Randy Evers, Chief Racing Officer for Grants Pass Downs which is part of TMB Racing, told NW Horse Report that the legal action was not “what most may immediately think when the word lawsuit is thrown around”. Evers explained that Boersma has invested heavily into the Downs and the community of Grant’s Pass, despite tough economic times in one of the hardest hit areas of Oregon.
A concept image of The Flying Lark prior to it’s actual construction, although it is now mostly completed. The facility is a 35,000 sq ft dining and entertainment venue being opened by Dutch Bros co-founder Travis Boersma.
“The Flying Lark is a critical part at ensuring the long term viability of horse racing in Oregon” said Evers. He further went on to explain that the tribes did not take the same action when the machines were used at Portland Meadows.
A statement by Boersma provided to NW Horse Report stated in part, “Over the course of the last few years, I’ve worked with a team of dedicated experts to revive Grants Pass Downs and build The Flying Lark, a premier restaurant, horse racing, and gaming center. These projects have provided hundreds of living wage jobs, supported seasonal workers and created opportunities for people of all ages in the community.”
Boersma continued, “Through the entire process, I’ve made it a priority to meet and work with Oregon’s tribal leaders. It is my hope that tribal leaders will once again come back to the table to identify ways in which we can work together. Until then, our team has made it clear we will continue to work to provide jobs and support the economy while following all laws and guidance.”
Evers further detailed that the racing commission was supposed to take up matters again in November. Jack McGrail, Executive Director for the Oregon Racing Commission, told Willamette Week that his commission would defer the scheduled Nov. 18th agenda item on The Flying Lark. It appears the commission also cancelled it’s December meeting. Minutes for its November meeting have yet to be posted online.
“The petition is not a lawsuit that is seeking money from the State and taxpayers, it’s simple goal is to require that the Oregon Racing Commission move forward in a reasonable manner so we can take care of the many countless employees who are currently training in their new roles with The Flying Lark.” said Evers.
A request for comment placed last week to McGrail with the racing commission was not returned before press time. Calls places with several Oregon tribal governments also went without comment.
A horse neglect case with a trial that ended abruptly last Thursday resulted in the State’s prosecutor offering a reduction to a violation instead of the possibility of a criminal conviction– an exchange for a guilty plea– all due to multiple witnesses for the State ignoring subpoenas to testify.
Christopher Alan Smith, 42, was charged with Animal Neglect in the Second Degree in Marion County, Oregon, following a May 2018 investigation by the Salem Police Department. The State and other involved equestrians, including the women who leased pasture for Smith’s horse for about a month, alleged that Smith failed to provided the appropriate care for his horse due to a case of “neglected hoof care”.
One of the photos taken in the spring of 2018 of hooves of the horse involved in the allegations against Christopher Alan Smith.
Smith has previously been charged in Oregon with other felony crimes, including for failure to register as a sex offender, a charge that was later dismissed by the State after Smith was taken into federal custody. It was unclear if his federal custody was related to sex related crimes.
The Salem woman who leased the pasture, Mariesa Stombaugh, ended up being the only witness to testify before the State’s case fell apart when multiple witnesses failed to show for court. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office had the case handled by an outside deputy district attorney, Jacob Kamins.
Kamins is the State’s special animal cruelty prosecutor who often handles many of the serious cases of animal neglect across the State. He is the same prosecutor currently handling another case involving 55 felony counts of animal brought against the owner of Silver Oaks Saddlebreds in Carlton, Oregon.
During the start of the short lived trial, Smith’s court appointed attorney appeared to imply that Stombaugh was at fault based on a provision of their pasture lease contact authorizing Stombaugh to provide emergency care for the horse. Stombaugh explained that she did not live on-site, but also detailed how her and others did indeed intervene despite repeated excuses and lack of action by Smith.
A photo during the brief trial of Christopher Alan Smith on Thursday December 9th, 2021, for charges related to the alleged neglect of a horse he kept in pasture in Salem, Oregon. The case was presided on by Judge James Edmonds.
The horse later was turned over into the care of the Oregon Horse Rescue (OHR), a Eugene based non-profit. Police reports detailed that Smith had contacted the rescue after police had got involved and issued a warrant for his arrest. Court testimony seemed to also indicate that Stombaugh and an individual living next to the pasture having called the rescue as well. Police detailed that Smith authorized the horse to be moved and was permitted to do so after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office at the time.
Neither Smith or OHR confirmed with NW Horse Report if Smith ever officially surrender or transferred ownership of the horse. The horse apparently died in an accident while in the custody of OHR in early 2019 in an unrelated incident. When asked prior to trial about the status of the horse, David Kelly with OHR stated he couldn’t comment.
Kelly, a well known former City of Eugene Councilor who represented Ward 3– which covers the University of Oregon area– is not new to news attention in the Eugene area. He served 3 terms as councilor from 1998 through the start of 2007.
He also gained some attention in the summer of 2018 after the Eugene Weekly revealed that a Wisconsin circuit court judge issued a $4.5 million dollar civil forfeiture against Kelly and his Wisconsin-based business, “Atomic Glass”, over what the Wisconsin DOJ alleged was the illegal sale of synthetic marijuana labeled as “potpourri” and “incense” between 2011 and 2016. At the time Kelly called the suit “frivolous and vindictive.”
In May of 2015 the Register-Guard of Eugene reported that Kelly’s wife Jane was suing the city and two polices offers over tickets for tinted-windows in US District Court.
Kelly and his wife both appear to dedicate most of their time and effort into OHR which focuses on helping, healing, and re-homing at-risk horses. OHR has a 2021 Silver Transparency rating from non-profit accountability organization GuideStar. Kelly was present and ready to testify in the case, but was not the individual with OHR who picked up the horse in Salem in May of 2018.
One of the photos taken in the spring of 2018 of hooves of the horse involved in the allegations against Christopher Alan Smith.
In a post-trial interview with NW Horse Report, Kamins explained that the State had to prove their case “beyond a reasonable doubt”, explaining how this is an example of how witnesses and their attendance are a key component to our criminal justice system. He expressed that he didn’t feel it was possible given the circumstances and felt it was best to at least get a plea on a violation in lieu of a possible acquittal.
Kamins further explained that two most important witnesses for the State did not appear, despite subpoenas to do so. The two witnesses were reported to have been a Eugene area farrier who provided care at OHR, as well as a former volunteer for the rescue. He went on to say that the case he was bringing on behalf of the State “was strong” and was disappointed by the outcome.
Smith’s other charges include theft in the first degree and computer crime, which Smith was sentenced to last month, pleading guilty on the theft charges for a dismissal of the computer crime charges. He was also convicted with felony theft in February of this year and sentenced in September.
In 2015 Smith was arrested after being a reported “fugitive from Tennessee”. That state later decided to drop it’s request for extradition. NW Horse Report had not determined the origin of the convictions that would have required his sex offender registration, but they appear to be federal or charges from another state.
Smith declined to make any comment to NW Horse Report after his trial was ended by mid-day.
Despite the outcome, Kamins also expressed gratitude to all of the individuals involved in the case, including officers from the Salem Police Department who don’t usually come across cases involving horses within city limits. Cases of neglect involving horses are much more likely to be handled by county or state law enforcement.
The Kentucky Derby winner, American Thoroughbred racehorse Medina Sprit, died Monday at the Santa Anita racetrack in California, according to a statement made by the California Horse Racing Board.
Medina Sprit had collapsed upon reaching the finish line during a workout session and died nearly immediately said the CHRB.
“Following the completion of a routine morning workout, Medina Spirit collapsed on the track at Santa Anita Park and died suddenly of a probable cardiac event according to the on site veterinary team who attended to him,” said an official with the Santa Anita Park in a released statement.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has been the recent subject of controversy in the horseracing world, said the champion colt died from a “heart attack” following the workout. The Racing board will not determine an official cause of death until a necropsy and toxicology tests are complete.
“My entire barn is devastated by this news,” Baffert’s said in his statement.
“Medina Spirit was a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss. I will always cherish the proud and personal memories of Medina Spirit and his tremendous spirit.”
The horse was also subject of the same controversy as Baffert earlier this year which was considered one of the sport’s biggest controversies in history. Medina Sprit failed a post-race drug test after crossing placing first in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
Baffert was subsequently banned from fielding any horses at the Churchill Downs racetrack for two years following the confirmation of the test for a legal drug whose presence is banned on race day.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission also paid tribute to the thoroughbred, “The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) is saddened to hear of the death of Medina Spirit. He was a valued member of the thoroughbred industry’s horse racing family.”
Medina Spirit did go on to race four more times in the Derby, finishing third at the Preakness Stakes, and winning two races in California. He had also placed in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic last month.
Updated on December 6th at 09:37am to reflect parts of a statement from the Better Business Bureau concerning the company.
Another company has been found to be marketing and providing services for the construction of horse barns in Oregon without being licensed with the Oregon CCB– leaving unwitting Oregonian’s without critical protections provided by the State when things go amiss. The company, North Carolina based Manning Buildings, is also likely violating contractor licensing requirements in many other states.
Over the summer, NW Horse Report covered a story involving California based MD Barnmaster and North Carolina KB Constructors, LLC being busted by the State’s Construction Contractors Board and being fined thousands of dollars. The two affiliated companies provided both the materials and installation of luxury horse barns in multiple states. That story also detailed a lengthy and emotional ordeal involving attorneys and possible litigation for Mindy Wolfe of Tumalo, Oregon.
Following that story, readers started to send in tips regarding other unlicensed contractors offering horse barns, mostly those based outside of Oregon. One company that came up repeatedly in just the last week was another North Carolina company, Manning Buildings, based in Snow Hill, North Carolina.
NW Horse Report was sent multiple copies of posts made on several Oregon horse related Facebook groups showing the company’s owner, Derek Manning, quoting customers for project totals, delivery rates, and responded to other questions. Another women was also posting on behalf of the business and appeared to be affiliated with the company. Online reviews appear to show that Manning Buildings had performed jobs in Oregon before, including in the areas Salem and Lincoln City.
One of the Facebook posts– made just yesterday by Manning on the group called Official Oregon Horses— already had 90-comments by late Friday evening.
A 1-star rated Yelp page also detailed issues reported by a customer in North Carolina that echoed reviews found elsewhere that detailed issues with getting refunds when the manufacturer had delays. The company doesn’t maintain an official website beyond it’s official Facebook business page.
Upon a closer look and speaking with Manning, it didn’t take long before NW Horse Report discovered that not only did the business not have a CCB license in Oregon, it wasn’t registered with the Oregon Secretary of State, a requirement in order to be licensed with the CCB.
A street view of Manning Buildings in Snow Hill, NC. Photo credit Google Street View
Manning made conflicting statements, first saying he was a licensed contractor in Oregon, then changing his story that his business was covered by the manufactories he works with, in particular a company he called “American Steel”, based in Joshua, Texas. That company’s full name was American Steel Carports, Inc.
He also claimed that only his installers had to be licensed, a claim that Oregon CCB officials later told NW Horse Report was false. Manning refused to disclose the installers he uses in Oregon when asked who they were and if they were licensed contractors.
After Manning was informed that no record for either company could be found with the Oregon CCB, Manning said he would call back after “clearing things up”. He returned the call to say that after talking with American Steel Carports Inc.– the purported supplier for his metal barns– that neither company was going to answer any more questions and were not willing to provide their license numbers to NW Horse Report or any other news media.
NW Horse Report then decided to reach out to American Steel Carports in Texas to confirm Manning’s claim that they didn’t wish to speak with any media. They said that Manning Buildings was an “online dealer”. The company did say that their sister company, American Carports, Inc., was licensed in Oregon and California. They and provided a number which was indeed verified as Active with the Oregon CCB.
Oregon CCB records did show that American Carport had a single disciplinary action ordered in March of 2020 for not having a responsible managing individual (RMI) on their license. It also showed 3 past suspensions; 2 for not having liability insurance, and another for not having a required surety bond.
The American Steel Carports official who spoke to NW Horse Report also said they were not aware of Manning having any recent discussion with their company about not speaking to the media, saying they were happy to be transparent. They also confirmed that as a dealer, Manning Buildings would handle the initial deposit payments with customers and handling the initial sales and bid, something the Oregon CCB clearly stated would require Manning Buildings to be registered and licensed in Oregon.
They said that Manning Buildings was “not a subcontractor” and is not an agent of their company.
While saying they did not believe they were not legally responsible for Manning Buildings having any required licensing in the respective states, the official did say it would be a matter of concern if they were violating the law.
Leslie Culpepper, Communications and Education Manager for the Oregon CCB, provided NW Horse Report reference to the Oregon statute that clearly defines the requirement that would require Manning Buildings to be licensed.
The statute defined a “Contractor” as, “A person that, for compensation or with the intent to sell, arranges or undertakes or offers to undertake or submits a bid to construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, inspect, move, wreck or demolish, for another, a building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development or improvement attached to real estate, or to do any part thereof”.
A September 14th, 2021 photo posted by Manning Buildings showing a construction project on a metal structure in an undisclosed location.
Culpepper further said that while the contractor should always be able to provide their CCB license number, they found no record for Manning Buildings or Derek Manning. She confirmed that it was a common misconception that only the contractors on-site needed to be licensed.
However, the licensing issues didn’t just end with Oregon. NW Horse Report uncovered that Manning Buildings was not licensed with the Licensing & Contractors Board in it’s home state of North Carolina. The North Carolina Secretary of State also had no record of “Manning Buildings”. There was an apparently a similar named but unrelated business called “Manning Building Products”.
NW Horse Report could find no business registered in North Carolina associated with Manning. Manning Buildings advertised providing it’s products and services in 48 states. No record of any contractors license or business registration tied to Manning could be found in a handful of Oregon states in which posts showed Manning had contracted jobs performed in. Some states were likely to have requirements that were both similar or varied from Oregon’s contractor licensing.
Despite Manning Buildings being based out of state, they can still be subject to fines by the Oregon CCB. Our recent story about California based MD Barnmaster detailed a $5,000 fine the company was slapped with by the Oregon CCB– which as of today still has $1,615.85 unpaid to the State.
Culpepper explained the importance of Oregon consumers to check and verify all parties they are paying and signing contracts with for such projects.
“Contractors licensed in Oregon are required to carry a bond and insurance that can help protect consumers. In addition, homeowners who find themselves in a dispute with a CCB-licensed contractor have access to the CCB’s mediation services.” said Culpepper.
She further explained that anyone who would like to look up their contractor’s license number can do so online or call the agency at 503-378-4621. She also said that while the Oregon CCB can investigate and fine unlicensed contractors, consumers do not have the protections afforded by the State if they work with a unlicensed company or individual.
Frank Wiesner, Executive Director for the North Carolina Licensing Board also echoed a similar statement as Culpepper regarding the lack of protections if consumers work with an unlicensed contractor in their state.
In speaking with NW Horse Report, Wiesner said they are aggressive in investigating unlicensed contractors that are reported to them, going as car as seeking court orders for injunctions, and in some cases criminal penalties for those that ignore those court injunctions. He said about half of the complaints received by their agency involve unlicensed contractors.
Wiesner also confirmed that Manning Buildings was not licensed in North Carolina and would in fact need to be registered and active with the Secretary of State in order to be licensed. He said that consumers with information or who have issues about unlicensed contractors should contact their agency for assistance.
Manning Buildings did have many favorable reviews, but they also had a common complaint where customers faced delays that Manning Buildings repeatedly blamed on the manufacturer and said his company was “just the dealer”. The complaints often reported issues getting refunds or having their calls ignored for weeks.
A representative with the Better Business Bureau reported that Manning Buildings was registered with it’s local county since it was not a limited liability company or corporation, implying they didn’t have to be registered with the State of North Carolina. They further stated that a contractors license in North Carolina is not required for projects under $30,000. That would only apply within North Carolina as each state maintains their own regulations. Wiesner mentioned that their threshold was on the higher end when compared to most states.
NW Horse Report still found online postings that showed Manning Buildings facilitating projects over $30,000 in multiple instances. Manning Buildings has a single filed BBB complaint and currently has an A+ rating.
Manning Buildings does appear to offer other prefab products that would not require a contractors license in most states, but most of those products are through a dealership arrangement with another company called Liberty Storage Solutions. An official with that company made clear they were not affiliated with any of the metal structure business offered by Manning Buildings. They were also not aware that Manning Buildings was not registered with the Secretary of State in North Carolina and expressed concern.
A follow-up request for comment from Manning Buildings sent by email earlier on Friday was not returned.
You can always count on NW Horse Report to investigate tips on matters of consumer protection for equestrians
Updated on 12/2 at 10:23am: Additions to include a statement released by an attorney representing Mr. Church and info pertaining to the informant having met with Church.
Federal prosecutors with a US Attorney’s Office have filed to have more than $300,000 forfeited, money that authorities claim is from illegal marijuana tied to a cross-country drug trafficking ring. The $300,000 was seized from an Oregon horse trainer after state police troopers stopped him in Mercer County near Pittsburgh.
The Oregon horse trainer was identified as Shawn Church, a man NW Horse Report later confirmed was Shawn Church of McMinnville, Oregon, located in Yamhill County about 45 minutes from downtown Portland.
An undated photo of Shawn Church riding a horse
Church is the owner and operator of Shawn Church Performance Horses, which also does business under Shawn Church Reining. Church claims to be an NRHA Judge, $100k+ in NRHA earnings, and having been a 2020 NRBC finalist. The NRHA lists him as an official judge.
The entire case that led to the seizure and recent filing for forfeiture started in May when a confidential informant told authorities about a drug ring that was transporting large amounts of marijuana from Ukiah, California, to Philadelphia. The informant, described as a courier for the ring, had previously met with Mr. Church and talked with him about pricing and transportation of marijuana
In June, police had been following Church’s movements after having obtained a warrant to track his cellphone. Court documents detailed that he flew from Portland to San Francisco on June 10th and proceeded to leave Ukiah the following day.
For several days, law enforcement tracked the phone across the country, later observing a GMC pickup and horse trailer heading east on I-80 through Pennsylvania. The same day, June 14th, the phone’s signal showed he stopped two hours north of Philadelphia.
On June 15th, police said the phone reported heading west. Police then moved in and pulled over the GMC pickup and horse trailer driven by Church.
Church told troopers he was hauling horses after leaving Bloomsburg, just southwest of Scranton, PA. He said he had come from Oregon, where had sold a horse for $15,000, and then hoped to sell three other horses in Nebraska, all according to the court filling.
When asked if he was carrying a large amount of money he said no. Church had refused to allow troopers to search. The report details that troopers knew otherwise, prompting them to dispatch a drug sniffing dog which alerted on the trailer. A search warrant was then obtained, allowing police to search the vehicle and trailer and coming across $300,080 in cash, a bong, and finding marijuana residue in the horse trailer.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette who initially broke the story, detailed calling a horse trainer outside of Portland named Shawn Church on Wednesday. When asked if he was the same man the caller hesitated and said “I don’t think so” and hung up before answering any more questions from the Post-Gazette reporter.
NW Horse Report then started digging further after being tipped off to the story. The court filings showed only the last 4 digits of the phone number of the phone that was tracked by law enforcement, which coincidentally matched the last 4 digits of Church’s business phone number listed on his company website and multiple advertisements online.
The vehicle license plate of the GMC was also contained in court documents, which a reporter with NW Horse Report used to confirm the same vehicle, a newer white GMC pickup with the same plate, was present at the address for Church’s business and residence on Wednesday evening in McMinnville, Oregon.
Church had not returned multiple calls and an email requesting comment made early Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, Carrie Emison with the Pier 5 Law Offices in San Francisco, California emailed a statement saying she represented Church. “While Mr. Church would relish the opportunity to speak and defend himself publicly, I have asked that he abstain at this time. “
“Please know that he adamantly denies participation in drug trafficking. The accusations against him are unfounded and spurious. Mr. Church has been legitimately employed in the horse industry for over two decades. All cash seized from him on June 15, 2021, was derived legally and lacked any connection to alleged illicit activity. Mr. Church looks forward to defending against the government’s allegations.” stated Church’s attorney.
Church’s business recently moved and was now recently operating out of a facility known as The Barn at Mountain Spring Farms which is located in Rickreall, Oregon, just outside the State’s capitol city of Salem. The owners of that business told NW Horse Report that they lease part of their facility to Church’s business, but knew nothing about the forfeiture or Church’s involvement with the illegal cross country drug-trafficking ring.
Oregon Secretary of State records show that Shawn Church Performance Horses is an expired assumed business name of Church Family, Inc. The business has been registered since 2007. No records existed for Shawn Church Reining.
No criminal charges appear to have been filed against Church at this time. It is unknown if Church is cooperating with authorities as part of a likely ongoing investigation by federal authorities and the US Attorney’s Office.
This is an ongoing story which we will continue to follow.
Two jockeys were injured Tuesday night after the track lights went out during the 11th and final race at Grants Pass Downs in Oregon.
A video posted by the Paulick Report shows that the horses were just going into the first turn coming off the initial stretch when the lights suddenly went out. The horses later reappeared along the final stretch under lights from the scoreboard. Two of the horses were riderless.
Jockeys Patrick Henry Jr. And Alex Anaya had undisclosed injures and were taken to a local hospital. They were both released on Wednesday. None of the six horses were injured according to officials with Grant’s Pass Downs. The race was declared as a no contest.
The first two horses emerging from the darkness after lights went out November 9th at Grants Pass Downs. One of the horses is without it’s rider.
President of Grants Pass Downs, Randy Evers, provided a statement via email to NW Horse Report on Wednesday saying, “Grant’s Pass Downs is currently reviewing an unfortunate incident at Tuesday’s races.” He further reported on the conditions of the riders, “Both [jockeys] have been released from the hospital and are in good condition.” Evers did not make any statement on the extent of their injuries.
Attendees at the race reported that while the track lights went out, other lights at the facility stayed on, leaving some to believe it was not caused by a power outage.
The statement from Evers further stated, “Grants Pass Downs is an industry leader in safety and dedicated to continually improving and enhancing our policies and procedures to ensure our riders and horses are operating in an exceptional environment. We take our commitment to horse racing and the equine community seriously and will consult experts as needed to ensure our races meet the high standards we’ve set for ourselves.”
The race was the final of the Fall meet at Grants Pass Downs.
Investigators with the Washington State Gambling Commission, the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture serve a warrant on a suspected illegal horse racing operation on October 26th, 2021. Photo credit: Washington State Gambling Commission
Update on October 28th at 11:20am – Updates to reflect a response to NW Horse Report from the Washington State Gambling Commission‘s Public Information Officer after the initial release.
Authorities with local, state, and federal agencies have descended on a horse ranch just outside of the Tri-Cities area in Washington State, as part of an investigation into illegal gambling and horse racing according to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, agents from the Washington State Gambling Commission served the warrant at the property. They were supported by the Walla Wall County Sheriff’s Office, Walla Walla Police Department, and special agents from the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Agents developed information that a ranch near Burbank was being used for horse racing that included accepting illegal gambling on site,” said a press release from the gambling commission. Kevin McCarty, the commission’s Public Information Officer, told the Tri-City Herald that he can’t release any more details at this time due to the current status of the investigation.
The press release also said, “The warrant service followed an investigation lasting more than two years.” No arrests were made at the time according to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office.
NW Horse Report determined the ranch to be located at 495 Dusty Rd in Burbank. The location is the registered address for two Washington limited liability companies according to the State’s Corporations & Charities Division. One was the Criadero De Ligeros Racing Stables Training Facility, LLC, owned by a Lorenzo Marquez Campos. The company was recently formed in June of 2021 according to the division.
Horses seen on the Criadero de Ligeros ranch. Photo credit: Washington State Gambling Commission
The other business linked to the address was MA Remodeling & Finishing, LLC, also owned by Marquez Campos. County records indicate that Marquez Campos is the current owner of the property which appears to have been purchased in 2015.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries recently suspended the remodeling company’s contractors licensed in May of this year, indicating the business “does not meet Labor & Industries licensing requirements”. Calls placed to the the company went unanswered.
Two Facebook business pages, one with posts dating back to 2018, were verified by NW Horse Report to be tied to Criadero de Ligeros. The most recent post from the active page advertising races was posted on September 26th.
Shortly after the release of this story, McCarty told NW Horse Report he could neither confirm nor deny if Marquez Campos or the Criadero de Ligeros business were subjects of the investigation. He declined to provide any other information beyond what was included in their recent press release.
This is a developing story that NW Horse Report will continue to keep our readers updated on as new information is released.
The Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo will be taking place next week at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center located in Redmond, Oregon. The Rodeo will be held at 7pm each evening from October 21st through the 23rd. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the gate.
The Columbia River Circuit and Finals Rodeo (CRCFR) covers 56 events in the Northwest with the Finals Rodeo held in Redmond. The Finals Rodeo was last held in Redmond in 2014 according the Circuit Manager, Debi Davis.
“We were there for 10 years, left in 2014, but now we’re back. The folks in Deschutes County have been fabulous,” said Davis. “The High Desert Stampede has been a big partner in making this return happen.”
The Finals Rodeo will feature bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bullfighting, bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, and tie down roping events.
Ellensburg Rodeo, Ellensburg WA – Photo Credit: Roseanna Sales & Columbia River Circuit
The current Columbia River All-Around Leader is Russell Cardoza, 34, of Terrebonne, Oregon. Cardoza’s current 2021 winnings are $21,202, which is followed by Roger Nonella with $20,761. Cardoza’s 2021 highlights include being all-around winner at the High Desert Stampede held earlier this year in Redmond, Oregon. He also won the Cle Elum (Wash.) Roundup. He is ranked #47 in the world in team roping, and unranked in tie-down roping.
COVID-19 has continued to have impacts across the northwest with rodeo events, but Davis explained that the CRC was fully prepared.
“We will adhere to the protocols set by the State of Oregon. We are providing items for sanitation stations, social distancing as best we can per the state guidelines, and leaving it up to the individual people to adhere to the requirements.” said Davis, who further remarked, “The people in Central Oregon are very excited for the return of the finals to Redmond and the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.”
Davis has been a PRCA Secretary for about 30 years, and with the circuit since 2009.
Milepost 87 on Highway 30 was the scene of an incident involving a horse falling out of a trailer that was westbound on
Earlier today there was a report of a horse falling off of a trailer in Clatsop County, Oregon, just outside of the town of Astoria in the northwest corner of the state. Initial reports say the driver and assumed owners of the horse were not immediately aware the horse had fell out of the trailer. The horse fell off the trailer while westbound near milepost 87, located on a curve that is well known to local residents.
Social media posts from witnesses said the horse appeared to be a white and black spotted appaloosa. Other witnesses stated that a veterinarian was promptly sent out to euthanize the horse.
A short grainy video circulating on social media did confirm that an ODOT official had responded to the scene. The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Oregon State Police was handled the call. Witnesses stated that the driver did return to the scene after the horrific discovery.
The cause of the accident or any other additional details were not immediately available. Officials with ODOT and the Oregon State Police have not yet responded to any requests for information.
The US Center for SafeSport has issued a temporary suspension of Jeff Campf, a professional equestrian trainer from Oregon, for “allegations of misconduct”. A no-contact directive was also been issued on Campf.
Campf and his wife Shelly Campf, of Canby, Oregon, are hunter/jumper trainers who operate Oz Inc. which is situated on 45 acres just north of the town of Canby and thirty minutes from downtown Portland.
The US Center for SafeSport have not responded to our requests for comment before press time. The Center did respond to a request for comment earlier in the day from The Chronicle of the Horse, but only commented generally on the SafeSport process.
“The Center doesn’t comment on matters to protect the integrity of the process. Temporary measures, up to a suspension, are a safety tool SafeSport uses to protect participants while it conducts its work.”
The U.S. Equestrian Federation has released a statement statement saying:
“USEF will enforce the temporary suspension put in place by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. USEF respects the process of the U.S. Center For SafeSport and, importantly, the privacy and confidentiality of the process for all parties involved.”
Calls made to Mr. Campf and Oz Inc have not been returned.
This is the second incident this year that involves a prominent Oregon equestrian with a US Safe Sport suspension. In February, Richard Fellers, 61, of Oregon City, was suspended for reasons related to “misconduct”.
In June, Richard Fellers was then arrested and charges of sex abuse after a several months long investigation conducted by local law enforcement with support from the FBI.
His wife Shelley Fellers was later suspended for 4-years, which was recently increased to 6-years just last week.
