Page 60 - January 2017

2016 A YeAr In revIew
March 17
The Drug Testing Laboratory at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) became the seventh laboratory to receive full accreditation after dedicating two years to achieve the standards put forth by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC). The Drug Testing Laboratory receives samples from equine and canine owners, as well as samples from fairs and livestock shows looking to ensure fair competition. The TVMDL
is responsible for providing drug-testing services to the pari-mutuel horse and greyhound racing industries.
March 18
Sunland Park Racetrack broke ground on The Hotel at Sunland Park Racetrack - a cowboy-themed, four-story, 78-room hotel. The project will cost $7 million and will be the first hotel within the Sunland City Park limits.
March 19
The Alberta government announced a 10-year agreement to continue funding the horse racing industry. Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) will receive a cut of the net revenue from slot machines at Alberta’s four racing locations. In previous years, the industry received about 52% of those gaming revenues. The new deal will begin at 50% in 2016 and gradually reduce to 40% by 2018.
March 20
Treasure Valley shut down its last operating piece of business at Les Bois Park – simulcasting in its Turf Club. Treasure Valley Racing, which operates Les Bois Park in Idaho, stated it would not hold live racing in 2016 due to state legislature refusal to consider restoring instant horse racing, the revenue of which the operator was dependent upon. State law also says a racing operator must have live racing to offer simulcast betting. The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee elected not to hear the horsemen’s gaming commission bill, therefore Treasure Valley did not see a viable return of live racing at Les Bois Park. Although the legislature approved instant racing in 2013, it was repealed in 2015. Treasure Valley Racing leases the 63-acre racetrack & Turf Club from Ada County. If instant racing is not legalized, the company will pay the county $75,000 a year but can terminate the lease with 30 days’ notice.
March 22
Zoetis and the Association
of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) announced the winners of this year’s Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. 2016 was the 6th year of
the annual program, which awarded over $700,000 in scholarships to 2nd- & 3rd- year veterinary students.
The program operates as
part of Zoetis Commitment to Veterinarians created to support leadership & diversity among future veterinarians and to help offset the costs of a veterinary education.
March
March 23
Louisiana Downs ended their meet after severe flooding forced the evacuation of horses from
the backside and the subsequent rescheduling of the several big stakes races. Jockey Eddi Martinez (shown) was named the Leading Jockey after riding the earners of $218,789 and 30 winners. Kenneth Weeks (shown) was the track’s Leading Trainer with 18 winners and earnings of $107,704. The Leading Owner title went to Julien R. Stevens III with eight winners.
March 27
Sierra Racing won the 2016 Cutter & Chariot Racing Association World Championship title in Ogden, Utah, with their horses Paint Me A Winner and Tall Hero. This was the first World Championship title for owners Kelly and Kyle
Cook as well as the first for veteran driver Larry Sanders. Sierra Racing earned their way to the World Championships through the Nebo Association, winning their state division championship. Paint Me A Winner (PYC Paint Your Wagon- My Girl Jessie), a 2011 gelding, is a 3-time race winner with a 93 speed index and $53,697 in earnings. He was a finalist in the 2013 West Texas Futurity-G1 and Hobbs America Futurity-G2 before moving to the chariots. Tall Hero (Valiant Hero- Shiv Katall, Shazoom), a 2011 gelding, is also a 3-time race winner with a 95 speed index and earnings of nearly $9,000.
March 29
The AQHA announced the 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees. The five individuals are: Marvin Barnes of Ada, OK; Peter J. Cofrancesco III of Sparta, NJ; Bobby D. Cox of Fort Worth, TX; Dick Monahan of Walla Walla, WA;
and Sandra Vaughn of Hernando, FL. The five horses are Casey’s Ladylove, Dashing Phoebe, Majestic Scotch, Strawfly Special, and Zips Chocolate Chip.
March 29
The remains of
3-time World
Champion Go Man
Go and his grave
monument were
moved to Ruidoso
Downs from the
former Buena Suerte
Ranch in Roswell,
NM, where he spent
the final years of his life until his death in 1983. The monument is located by the infield winner’s circle, which will now be called the Go Man Go winner’s circle that will include a bronze plaque detailing his accomplishments. Go Man Go was the first two year old to be named World Champion and is the only stallion ever to receive that title for three consecutive years, in 1955, 1956 and 1957.
58 SPEEDHORSE, January 2017