Page 94 - January_2023

YEAR in REVIEW
JUNE
WYOMING DOWNS OFFERS LONGEST SEASON & HIGHEST PURSES
(June 4) Wyoming Downs opened their 2022 meet and 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 will be held through Aug. 7. The track will host 20 special events this year, including Native American Heritage Day, Wyoming Downs
Car Show, Kids Stick Horse Races, and Pink Out Day celebrating cancer survivors with the annual “Raysha’s Race.” This year marks the 10th consecutive race season since owner Erick Nelson repurchased Wyoming Downs, which is the only private racetrack in the state. “It’ll be our best season ever,” said Nelson. “Over these past years we’ve increased both the purse size and our season length. . . . The experience keeps getting better for both our horsemen and our fans.”
$3.6 million in earners, including Champions Significant Heart, This Snow Is Royal and Time For A Cigar, as well as 2-time Broodmare of
the Year Timeto Takeoff. She is the breeder
of 2-time Champion Royal Down Dash & Champion Royaltime Classic. The first Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes was won by Kiss Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Fredaville, Mr Jess Perry) by 1 1/2-lengths on June 12.
LIP CHIP LAUNCHES PILOT PROJECT
(June 12) Lip Chip LLC launched their
Chip Link Pilot Project in conjunction with Ruidoso Downs, with the first horses enrolled coming from Keeton Racing in Otts Boy
and Gettherefast, who finished 1-2 in the
Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity. The Chip Link System includes the following: Each horse is microchipped with a low frequency microchip, either in the superior lip placement, or the nuchal ligament; Each horse has their owner information, breed, age, sex, color, markings, and emergency contact information uploaded into the secure database; Each horse has 4 current photos as well as copies of current coggins, piroplasmosis, health certificates, and registration papers uploaded into the secure database, and only a certified track identifier or an approved veterinarian may upload information into the database; and once a horse has been implanted with their unique microchip, a simple scan with the Chip Link Reader will unlock this data and send it to a mobile app housed on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
TEXAS TO CEASE EXPORT OF SIMULCAST SIGNAL TO EVADE HISA
(June 13) Executive director of the Texas Racing Commission Amy Cook issued a letter to “All Occupational and Business Licensees” stating that the import and export of pari-mutuel simulcast signals will not be conducted at
Texas racetracks if the Horseracing Integrity
and Safety Authority (HISA) asserts control over regulatory supervision on July 1. This will eliminate in-state wagering on imported signals and out-of-state wagering on Texas tracks, where industry studies have shown up to 90% of handle comes via simulcasting - but will allow
pari-mutuel wagering on in-state races only. “We are denying HISA jurisdiction by disapproving signal export for all ‘covered horse races,’” Cook stated. “Our goal is the prevention of regulatory chaos, and the cost will be the loss of revenue in that export signal ... but you cannot put a price on certainty.”
AQHA SOUTH AMERICAN RACING SUMMIT IN JUNE
(June 13-19) The American Quarter Horse Association and racing leadership in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and San Paulo, Brazil,
will hold the inaugural 2022 AQHA South American Racing Summit June 13-19. Industry leaders and racing enthusiasts are invited to this multi-national event focusing on the economic and market benefits of approved AQHA racing and the development of a successful market
for the sport in South America. Topics include animal welfare, sport integrity, market value of progeny and much more. Visit www.aqha.com for more information.
OQHRA SUPPLEMENT WARNING
(June 14) The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association issued a warning to horseman regarding a supplement called “Tenda” by Fast Finish that is a direct violation of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission rules if administered per directions which state: “Give one 60cc syringe, orally 2 to 3 hours prior to event.” The supplement contains Sodium Bicarbonate which is in violation of OAC 325:45-1-27.
RUIDOSO DOWNS RAISES OVERNIGHT PURSES 20%
(June 17) Ruidoso Downs announced a 20% increase in overnight purses. “This is a healthy increase,” said Chief Operating Officer Rick Baugh. “We will continue to reward our horsemen whenever we are able to pass along any purse increases for overnight competition.” Ruidoso Downs began racing May 27 and will continue through Sept. 5.
APOLLITICAL JESS BREAKS $50 MILLION PROGENY MARK
(June 21) World Champion Apollitical Jess (Mr Jess Perry-Apollitical Time, Apollo TB) broke $50 million in progeny earnings and surpassed First Down Dash in the number
of foal crops to race to get to the mark. First Down Dash took 15 crops to make the $50 million mark, while Apollitical Jess has just 9 crops to race. Apollitical Jess is the #4 all-time leading sire of money earners. As of June 21, he has over $51 million in earners with 10 Champions, 111 stakes winners and $61,537 average earnings per starter.
LOS AL NAMES STAKES AFTER ABIGAIL KAWANANAKOA
(June 12) Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, a direct descendant of the Hawaiian royal family, will be honored annually with a $100,000 stakes event for fillies and mares. Kawananakoa was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2018, has been among the top owners and breeders since the mid-1990s, was named AQHA Champion Owner in 1994 and 1995, and received the Frank Vessels Memorial Award in 2011. She has long been devoted to horses, was a talented equestrian, and a promoter of research and teaching in equine musculoskeletal health
at Colorado State University where she received an honorary degree. She is the owner of over
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Wyoming Downs Offers Longest Season & Highest Purses
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