Page 87 - 17 August 2012

JD Baccarat (#1) was restored to victory in the Higheasterjet Handicap.
NMRC Reverses Ruling On Higheasterjet Handicap
JD Baccarat (Sweet First Down-Shake Car- tel, Corona Cartel) was disqualified from first to last by the stewards for interference in the $30,000 Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs on July 1, but the New Mexico Racing Commission reversed the ruling and restored the original order of finish. The appeal was made by the 3-year-old gelding’s trainer Paul Jones. The Higheasterjet victory is the first stakes win for JD Baccarat, who is owned by Johnny Cope, Stan Herzog, Butch Southway, R.D. Hubbard and Bat Masterson.
AQHA Hall Of Fame Names 2012 Inductees
Ten individuals and horses will be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association’s Hall of Fame during the 2013 AQHA conven- tion in March 2013. Individual inductees include: 1992-2009 AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer of Amarillo, TX; Ruidoso Downs steward and former jockey Kenny Hart of Ruidoso Downs, NM; 2007-’08 AQHA President and co-founder of Windward Stud Frank Merrill of Purcell, OK; Champion breeder, the late Guy Ray Rutland of Indepen- dence, Kansas; and longtime show Champion breeder Greg Whalen of Clements, Califor- nia. Equine inductees include: Reined Cow Champion/producer Fillinic; leading sire of western performance horses Freckles Playboy; leading sire and broodmare sire of race and barrel horses Lady Bug’s Moon; World Cham- pion producer Miss Olene; and Performance Champion/10-time Champion sire Poco Tivio.
Two New Organizations Seek To End Drug Use
Racing Free, an organization dedicated to eliminating dangerous performance-enhancing drugs in U.S. horse racing, including Quarter Horse racing, recently met with various racing commissions and industry leadership groups to draft a model incentive program to represent and reward owners for racing their horses free of drugs. Racing Free is accepting memberships for
a Racing Free Jackpot Series during the fall of 2012. Any owner who supports the movement will pay a $300 per meet/per horse entry fee into the Racing Free program. At the end of each meet, any horse that wins a race and has a clear drug test will be rewarded at least five-times the entry fee. Racing Free will also give end-of-meet awards for the owner, trainer and jockey with the most Racing Free wins. Interested sponsors, individuals who would like to nominate their horses, or anyone who would like to pledge their support can call (325) 248-5220 or visit racing- free.com for more information.
The Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA),
a grassroots movement in the Thoroughbred industry that supports the passage of federal legislation to prohibit the use of performance- enhancing drugs on race day, has launched
a new website at waterhayoatsalliance.com. Concerned horsemen are encouraged to add their names to the WHOA membership roster. Members will be kept abreast of news and given the ability to join forces and speak as a group to support legislation that would insure horses run drug free on race day.
Gilbert Ortiz Wins 2nd Annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award
Jockey Gilbert
Ortiz has won the
second annual
Sam Thompson
Memorial Jockey
Award. He will
be honored at a
presentation in the
winner’s circle at
Ruidoso Downs
on Sept. 2 emceed
by Chris Lincoln.
Ortiz will receive a trophy and belt buckle commemorating the win as well as a signed print of a Sam Thompson painting by artist Linda Manion. Ortiz’s name will also be added to a permanent trophy to be displayed every year at the award ceremony.
The Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey award is a peer-elected award. Jockeys at U.S. racetracks running QH races are invited to vote for the person whose personal character on and off the racetrack reflects positively on QH rac- ing. This year, the nominees were G.R. Carter Jr., John Hamilton, Freddie Martinez and Gilbert Ortiz. Speedhorse magazine, in con- junction with The Jockey’s Guild, developed the award in honor of the jockey who suffered
a fatal riding accident in 2008. Thompson was a Jockey’s Guild senator, the room representa- tive at Los Alamitos, and a council member of the Los Alamitos division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.
Ubuyillfly wins the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Remington Park.
Gilbert Ortiz
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff wins the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Fair Meadows.
Speedhorse P&A Triple Crown Update
Although the Speedhorse Paint & Appa- loosa Triple Crown will not declare a Triple Crown winner this year, the race is definitely on for High Point Champion honors. The first leg of the event was the $240,760 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on May 26, won by the Paint colt Ubuyillfly owned by Mary Hainline, trained by Eddie D. Willis and ridden by Jimmy Brooks. The second leg was the $109,988 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1 at Fair Meadows in Tulsa on Aug. 4, won by the Paint gelding Lajollas Mr Big Stuff owned by A. Jane Cullum, trained by Dee Keener, and ridden by James Flores. The third leg will be the $50,000 added Lone Star Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1 contested at Lone Star Park, with the trials to be held Oct. 13 and the finals on Nov. 3.
There are three horses tied for first place
in the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Triple Crown High Point standings with 17 total points each as of the running of the first two legs: Ubuyillfly, Judys Miss Banks and Super Glide Harley, and Lajollas Mr Big Stuff is a close second with 16 total points. The eventual High Point Champion will receive a variety
of awards for their accomplishment, includ- ing a $2,500 cash bonus sponsored by RaMax Farms, a trophy, a buckle, and other items.
continued on page 100
SPEEDHORSE, August 17, 2012 85
news briefs
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Gene Wilson & Associates Stacy Pigott: Speedhorse
Ruidoso Downs