Page 44 - January 2016 Speedhorse

2015 A YeAr In revIew
September 5
The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame Committee held a ceremony honoring four Class of 2015 Hall of Fame inductees, recognizing people and horses who have made an important and lasting contribution to the racing industry in Minnesota. The newest members include former jockey Tad Leggett, Minneapolis Star Tribune sports reporter Rachel Blount, state veterinarian Dr. Richard Bowman, and Thoroughbred Wally’s Choice.
September 16
Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) chairman Mark Lamberth announced the creation of a new committee to assist individual commissions in completing the execution of ARCI and Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) medication reforms. The new committee will identify jurisdictions that have not yet adopted the reforms and will assist them in the transition with strategies for implementation.
September 27
The Downs at Albuquerque ended their 55-day split meet with a 20% increase in purses, paying out more than $9.7 million during
its 2015 season. Wagering was up 29% over last year. The Downs also embarked on a renovation project of its grandstand, including a new entrance on the south
end, removing the glass from the seating area, enlarging the saddling paddock and winner’s circle, and raising the apron of the grandstand to make it level with the racetrack.
September 2
Longtime owner/breeder Gearl “Jack” Bannon, 94, of Kansas, passed away. A 30- year breeder, Bannon (above) bred horses with more than $1 million in earnings, and he raced horses that earned nearly $900,000. Bannon was a U.S. Army veteran and served during World War II. He was a landowner and a builder, and worked as an auctioneer and real estate broker, among other things. He owned and operated Jack Bannon Family Land and Cattle Company, and Jack Bannon Realty and Auction. He was known as a legend in the horse and cattle industries.
September 6
Los Alamitos’ all-time leading jockey Eddie Garcia was the winner of the 5th annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award and was honored at an awards presentation in the winner’s circle at Ruidoso Downs during
the All American Weekend. Garcia
received a trophy and belt buckle
commemorating the peer-elected award, a signed print of a Sam Thompson painting by artist Linda Manion, and his name was added to a permanent plaque to be displayed at each award ceremony and to be housed permanently at the AQHA headquarters in Amarillo, Texas.
September
September 2
This Flights For
You si 110 (First To
Flash-Atomic Fireball,
Runaway Winner) died
in his stall in Sallisaw,
Oklahoma, at the age of
10. The 5-time stakes
winner and 3-time New
Track Record setter
received his AQHA Superior Race Horse title in 2009 and was the 2009 Oklahoma Hi-Point Aged Stallion. This Flights For You is a stakes sire from very limited starters from 3 crops to race.
September 10
September 14
Leading sire/broodmare
sire Runaway Winner si
104 (Beduino TB-Miss
Fast Chic, Fast Jet) was
euthanized due to the
effects of old age. The 1985
gray stallion won or placed
10 of 14 career starts, including the Kindergarten Futurity-G1 and El Primero Del Ano Derby-G1. From 19 crops, Runaway Winner has sired the earners of nearly $14 million, including Champions Deceptively, Runaway Wave and Treacherously. He is also the broodmare sire of World Champions Stolis Winner and Wave Carver, and Champions Ocean Runaway and Runnning Brook Gal.
September 27
2014 Champion 3 Year Old/Champion 3-Year- Old Gelding Moonist (Separatist-Your First Moon, First Down Dash) earned the title of AQHA Supreme Race Horse, an award recognizing horses who earn $500,000 or more, win two or more open Grade 1 stakes, and at least 10 races. Moonist became the 105th horse to earn the award.
The Idaho Supreme Court ruled Gov. C. L. Otter’s veto of legislation banning historical racing machines was invalid and ordered Secretary of State Lawerence Denney to certify the law banning the machines. Treasure Valley Racing, which owns Les Bois Park, shut down its instant racing machines and laid off 80 employees involved in those operations. Treasure Valley Racing president John Sheldon said Les Bois Park will continue simulcast operations, but they are assessing the future viability of live racing. Les Bois Park plans to keep the machines in hopes a compromise can be made in 2016.
September 21
Jen Perkins began her new position as AQHA Director of Racing. Perkins will direct programs intended to build ownership of American Quarter Horses among racing audiences, implement and develop marketing strategies, and coordinate the enrollment and nomination process for the Bank of America Racing Challenge.
42 SPEEDHORSE, January 2016