Page 176 - June 2022

NEWS BRIEFS
First Cold Wave Ajax Horse Of The Year
Ajax Downs has named First Cold Wave (Cold Hard Dash-Cassies Carver, Wave Carver) their 2021 Horse of the Year. This is only the third time in the track history that a two year old has been given this honor. The Ontario-bred sor- rel gelding was a leader by wins in 2021 and has earned $81,028 thus far. At Ajax Downs
in 2021, he went wire-to-wire in the $51,622 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity, won the $93,047 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, and finished sec- ond in the $48,683 Ontario Bred Futurity. First Cold Wave, who earned 39 QROOI points, is bred/owned by Robert Bailey and trained by Jason Pascoe.
Sam Thompson Memorial Bourbon Tasting at Remington
Remington Park on May 5 held an exclusive bourbon tasting to raise funds for the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation, a philan- thropic organization supporting disabled jock- eys, education and welfare in the horse racing community. The event was hosted by Bob Faul- haber of Buffalo Trace Bourbon and included horsd’oeuvres and an auction with a chance to win a prized bottle of bourbon.
Remington Increased Purses
On April 28, Remington Park increased purses for the final 18 days of racing, with overnight purses upped by $2,500. The raise in purse was due to an increase in on-track business over the first eight weeks of the season, which ended May 28.
Quarter Horse Named Official Horse in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Senate approved a bill calling for the American Quarter Horse to
be recognized as the official state horse. The American Quarter Horse has major ties to the Oklahoma community: Oklahoma has more registered Quarter Horses per capita than any other state with over 33,000 registered owners; the Quarter Horse has an estimated $126.5 million economic impact in the state; Rem- ington Park hosts one of the nations’ premier
Quarter Horse meets and has provided over $288 million to the state general education fund since 2005; an Oklahoma Equine Alli- ance study found that the Oklahoma horse industry accounts for $3.6 billion and 35,000 full-time jobs in the state; and Heritage Place Sale Company is one of the industry’s leading auction horses for Quarter Horses. “Our state was built upon the western heritage and life- style of our ancestors and naming a state horse pays tribute to the cowboys, Native Americans, pioneers and others who built Oklahoma,” said Sen. Blake Stephens.
Sweetwater Events Extends Partnership with Wyoming Horse Racing
Wyoming Horse Racing LLC, which operates live racing at Sweetwater Downs, has reached an agreement to extend its partnership through 2030, including a $1 million commitment for improvements through donations to the Sweet- water Events Complex Foundation. Improve- ments to the horse racing facilities include the steward stand, paddock, test barn area, and a new race office and jockey quarters. “We are
grateful for Wyoming Horse Racing’s long term financial commitment to the Sweetwater Events Complex. We are excited to be working jointly on master plan improvements to the property that will greatly benefit horse racing as well as create improved facilities that will benefit out other events and the citizens of Sweetwater County.
New Sweetwater Downs Race Dates
The Wyoming Gaming Commissioners on May 5 amended the live race dates at Sweetwater Downs. The track in Rock Springs will run 16 days from Aug. 20 through Oct. 2. Race dates at Energy Downs remain the same from May 21 through June 26, and Wyoming Downs will run from June 4 through Aug. 7. Wyoming will run a total of 52 live race dates for 2022.
Wyoming Downs Offers Longest Season &
Highest Purses
Wyoming Downs, which opens their 2022 meet on June 4, will offer its longest race meet ever with 20 live race days as well as the highest purses in track history of $1.35 million. Racing
SPEEDHORSE PHOTO ARCHIVES
Can you identify the horse in this photo? Here’s a hint: She is one of only two mares foaled in the 1990’s listed in the top 50 AQHA Leading Dams by 2021 Stakes Winners. The answer is on page 176.
174 SPEEDHORSE June 2022
© Clive Cohen