Page 67 - January 2017

2016 A YeAr In revIew
August 27
In conjunction with First American Bankcard, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots made a donation of $27,847 to the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, to be distributed to assist the Tangipahoa Parish and Capital Area Region flood victims. The donation was a compilation of funds provided by both Fair Grounds and First American, as well as a portion of the admissions from exotic animal racing.
August 29
September 17
Veteran jockey J.R. Valenzuela reached the 1,000-win mark at Zia Park winning a claiming race aboard Jessy Wave Carver for owner Julio Islas and trainer Salvador Soto. Valenzuela has ridden over 8,500 starters, who have earned more than $8.3 million. He joins a group of only 83 other jockeys in the history of American Quarter Horse racing to achieve the four-figure win milestone.
Two-Time Champion Toast To Dash (Victory Dash-A Toast To Jet, Raise Your Glass TB) was euthanized after a long battle with laminitis. Bred and raced by M.R. Longoria and trained by K.C. Carden, the 22-year-old stallion won 12 races and 6 stakes events, including four Graded futurities. Toast To Dash sired of over $20 million, including New Track Record setter/multiple stakes winner Angelas Toast ($612,789). Robert and Karen Nunnally owned Toast To Dash at the time of his passing.
September
September 19
Horse Racing Alberta announced that Century Casinos, Inc. was awarded the right to build a new facility in the Edmonton area. The $50 million facility will include a one-mile track and a casino. Racing is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2018.
September 25
The Downs at Albuquerque ended their 60-day meet, paying a track-record $1.25 million in purses on its closing weekend. The New Mexico track declared their meet leaders: the co-leading Quarter Horse owners were Cuadra San Juditas LLC and Eloy Humberto Pena; the leading owner by money was Javier Marquez’s J & M Racing and Farm; the leading trainer by wins was Ron Stephens, who was also
the leading trainer by money earners; and Jose Luis Enriquez was the leading jockey as well as the leading jockey by money earners.
September 29
Longtime horseman and owner of RC Running Horses, Alfred Riedel passed away at the age of 78. Among others, Riedel bred graded stakes winner and AQHA Dam of Distinction Swingin O Toole (Jody O Toole-Swingin Alive, Special Effort).
August 31
Remington Park began offering more statistical data to horseplayers and fans as the Oklahoma track returned its “Right Weigh” procedure. Horses will be weighed on their way to the saddling paddock prior to each race and those weights will be displayed on the Remington Park television show during the post parade. The program was first implemented
in 1997 by President and General Manager Scott Wells, who reinstated the procedure after 25 years.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 65